Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, according to Al-Akhbar newspaper and confirmed by Lebanese Civil Defense.
Israeli strikes killed at least five people in southern Lebanon
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon killed at least five people on Wednesday, including Khalil, who worked for the daily Al-Akhbar newspaper. An initial strike hit a car in the village of al-Tiri, killing two civilians, while a later strike on a building wounded a journalist who was later found dead under rubble.
Rescue efforts were obstructed by ongoing Israeli fire
The Committee to Protect Journalists stated that rescue workers were unable to reach Khalil and freelance photojournalist Zeinab Faraj for several hours due to continued Israeli attacks in the area. The Red Cross was granted limited access to the site, which remained under active fire, delaying recovery operations.
For more on this story, see Israeli airstrikes kill three paramedics in southern Lebanon.
Khalil was last heard from at 4:10 p.m. Local time
According to news reports and colleagues cited by CPJ, Khalil called her family and the Lebanese military at approximately 4:10 p.m. On Wednesday before communication ceased. She and Faraj had been en route to report on recent attacks in the village of Bint Jbeil when their shelter was struck.
Who was Amal Khalil?
Amal Khalil was a reporter for the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar newspaper, covering events in southern Lebanon, including reporting near destroyed bridges in Qasmiyeh prior to her death.
What was the condition of the site after the strike?
The site remained under active Israeli fire, preventing rescue teams from accessing the wreckage for several hours, during which time Khalil and Faraj were trapped under rubble from a building struck in al-Tiri village.