Israeli Military Denies Targeting Journalists Killed in Lebanon Strike

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, in separate reports, concluded the journalists were targeted while reporting in the town of al-Tiri on 22 April, and called for an independent investigation and for Lebanon to accept the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction. The Israeli military denied targeting the journalists, saying three strikes aimed at two Hezbollah operatives. HRW's reconstruction said the first strike hit a car in front of the women, killing two men they knew; a second strike hit their parked car, injuring Khalil; a third destroyed the building where they sheltered.

Drones monitored them throughout, and a Lebanese Red Cross rescue team came under fire from a stun grenade, forcing retreat. Khalil died around 19:00 from cardiac arrest after a head injury. The military said it regrets any harm to journalists and that the incident is under internal review. Amnesty's Heba Morayef said there can be no justification for targeting civilians seeking shelter.