Israeli strike in southern Lebanon kills five, including journalist

At least five people, including a journalist, were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA).

The NNA reported that an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in the village of al-Tiri in southern Lebanon, killing two people inside. A separate strike later targeted a building in the same area.

Lebanon’s health ministry and local sources said journalist Amel Khalil of the newspaper Al Akhbar was trapped under rubble following the second strike and was later confirmed dead. Her colleague Zainab Faraj was reportedly injured and taken to hospital in critical condition.

Al Jazeera journalist Heidi Piet said Khalil and Faraj had been covering the aftermath of the earlier strike when the building they were near came under attack. Rescue teams were initially unable to reach the site due to continued hostilities.

The Lebanese health ministry alleged that the building struck was being used by journalists and also accused Israeli forces of targeting roads leading to the area, hampering ambulance access.

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos condemned the attack, blaming Israel for the deaths and calling for stronger protection for journalists and media personnel in conflict zones.

The Israeli military, however, said it does not target journalists and claimed its strikes were directed at Hezbollah-linked infrastructure, adding that efforts are made to avoid civilian casualties. It also denied obstructing rescue operations.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, where intermittent hostilities have persisted despite efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire environment.