Lebanon says an Israeli strike killed a journalist and blocked rescue efforts in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon has accused Israel of committing war crimes after an air strike killed journalist Amal Khalil and injured freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj.
The attack happened in the village of Tayri in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials said the two journalists were seeking shelter inside a house after an earlier strike hit a nearby vehicle and killed two men.
Authorities claimed the house was then struck again. They also alleged that Israeli forces prevented a marked Red Cross ambulance from reaching the wounded by using gunfire and a stun grenade.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the incident, saying attacks on journalists and obstruction of rescue teams amount to war crimes. He said Lebanon would pursue the matter through international legal channels.
The Israel Defense Forces denied targeting journalists. The military said it struck vehicles linked to a Hezbollah military structure after one vehicle approached Israeli troops and posed an immediate threat.
Press freedom groups strongly criticized the incident. Committee to Protect Journalists said it was outraged by Khalil’s death, while Reporters Without Borders raised concerns over repeated strikes and blocked medical access.
The incident comes despite a recent ceasefire effort aimed at reducing violence between Israel and Hezbollah after months of cross-border fighting.
The death of Amal Khalil adds to growing concerns over journalist safety in conflict zones and the fragile state of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire.
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