Journalist Killed in Lebanon After Israeli Airstrike

# **Lebanese Journalist Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Clash Over Ceasefire Talks**

### **A Tragic End in the Rubble**
The body of **Lebanese reporter Amal Khalil** was pulled from the wreckage of a bombarded house in southern Lebanon late Wednesday, hours after an Israeli air raid struck the area. Khalil, a correspondent for *Al-Akhbar*—a newspaper linked to Hezbollah—had sought refuge in the village home after an earlier Israeli strike destroyed her vehicle and that of a colleague.

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### **The Raid: Targeted Strike or Collateral Damage?**
Israeli forces claimed the attack targeted **Hezbollah fighters** who allegedly crossed a "forward defense line" into Israeli-controlled territory, posing an immediate threat. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (**IDF**) acknowledged reports of journalists being injured but asserted that the impact on civilians was under examination.

According to the IDF:
- Troops spotted **two vehicles** leaving a building identified as a Hezbollah base.
- Fighters entered Israeli territory, prompting an airstrike on both vehicles and a subsequent strike on a building where they fled.
- The IDF denied obstructing rescue teams and insisted they avoid targeting media personnel.

Lebanon’s **rescue teams**, however, painted a different picture:
- **Two people were killed** in the initial strike and recovered by first responders.
- Rescuers then **came under fire**, preventing them from reaching Khalil until just before midnight.
- A rescuer, **Faraj**, suffered a head injury during the operation.