Lebanon:

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of committing war crimes following an airstrike in southern Lebanon that reportedly killed a journalist and injured another.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, journalist Amal Khalil, associated with Al Akhbar, was killed while covering developments in the region. Another journalist, freelance photojournalist Zeinab Faraj, was seriously injured in the incident.

The strike reportedly occurred in the town of Tayri, where the journalists had taken shelter during ongoing hostilities. Lebanese authorities also alleged that emergency responders faced difficulties accessing the site during rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Salam stated that targeting journalists and obstructing rescue operations could constitute violations of international law. He further claimed that such incidents were becoming a recurring concern.

In response, the Israeli military said it does not deliberately target journalists and aims to minimize harm to civilians while carrying out operations. It added that the incident is under review and denied obstructing rescue teams.

The military also stated that its forces had identified movements linked to what it described as a Hezbollah-associated structure, and action was taken based on perceived threats.

Independent verification of the claims made by both sides has not been confirmed.

The incident took place amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, following recent escalations involving Hezbollah. International organizations, including the United Nations and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have expressed concern over the safety of media personnel in conflict zones.