South Lebanon (QNN)- Israeli forces besieged two Lebanese female journalists and targeted them with repeated airstrikes in the southern village of Al-Tayri, leaving one trapped under rubble and blocking rescue teams from reaching her.
Journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj were reporting on Israeli attacks in south Lebanon when Israeli strikes unfolded in a rapid and deadly sequence. The incident has raised urgent concerns about the deliberate targeting of media workers and the obstruction of humanitarian response.
At around 14:30 local time, an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle traveling near the journalists’ car. The attack killed two people. Khalil and Faraj escaped the immediate blast and sought shelter near a tree, accordung to Al-Manar TV.
Shortly after, emergency calls went out to the Lebanese Army and the Red Cross. However, rescue teams had to wait for clearance before moving, delaying urgent intervention.
At approximately 16:00, another drone strike hit near the journalists and directly targeted their vehicle. Khalil managed to contact colleagues and confirmed that both journalists were still alive at that moment.
The two then fled toward a nearby house to take cover while waiting for rescue teams. But before help arrived, Israeli warplanes struck the same house, causing it to collapse and trapping both journalists under the debris.
Emergency responders later managed to rescue Zeinab Faraj with injuries and transported her to Tebnine Governmental Hospital, where she underwent head surgery. Medical sources confirmed the operation succeeded and described her condition as stable.
Amal Khalil remains trapped under the rubble as rescue operations continue under extremely dangerous conditions.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said Israeli forces obstructed efforts to save Khalil and stated that Israel has committed a “double violation.” The ministry stated that Israeli forces targeted a clearly marked Red Cross ambulance and blocked access to the site.
Paramedics reported that Israeli fire and a stun grenade forced them to retreat while attempting to reach the journalists. Search operations stopped for nearly an hour due to renewed strikes before resuming later.
Rescue teams, supported by the Lebanese Army and Civil Defense, have identified Khalil’s location under a collapsed three-story building. Crews are racing against time to reach her as conditions on the ground remain unstable.
The Lebanese presidency said President Joseph Aoun is following the developments closely. He has instructed authorities to coordinate with the Red Cross and international forces to ensure rapid rescue efforts. He also stressed the need to protect journalists and uphold international law.
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos confirmed ongoing coordination between state agencies and humanitarian organizations to secure access to the site despite continued Israeli risks.
The attack comes despite a temporary 10-day ceasefire, which Israeli forces have continued to violate with strikes on southern Lebanese villages.
In parallel, Amal Khalil had received direct death threats days before the attack. Messages sent from an Israeli number warned her that she was being monitored and threatened her life for continuing her reporting.
“We know where you are… we will reach you,” one message read, ordering her to leave the country if she wanted to stay alive.
When Drop Site News later contacted the same number, the response justified targeting journalists by labeling them as affiliated with armed groups and “destined for death.”
These threats, combined with the strikes and blocked rescue access, have intensified fears that journalists are being deliberately targeted by Israel.
Amal Khalil has spent years documenting the human cost of war in southern Lebanon. Colleagues emphasize that she is a civilian journalist who was carrying out her work at the time of the attack.
Despite Israeli claims that it does not prevent rescue teams from reaching the area, paramedics say roads leading to the site were cut off by airstrikes, leaving Khalil trapped just hundreds of meters away from help.
