The killing of a prominent Lebanese journalist, Amal Khalil, on Wednesday, made global headlines this week. Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting the reporter, after pursuing her from the site of an initial blast to a house where she had taken shelter. However, Khalil had already been receiving threatening messages since 2024, warning she was being tracked.
Khalil, aged 43, working with Al Alkhbar, was reporting on the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict from al-Tayri in Southern Lebanon on Wednesday along with freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj when an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in front of them and killed two people. The journalists fled on foot and took shelter inside a nearby house which was also hit by a subsequent strike. Lebanese authorities described the pattern as a “double-tap” attack, implying that they were tracked and targeted even after fleeing.
Faraj, who survived with serious injuries, recounted Khalil’s final moments, “She kept hugging me. She told me, ‘Don’t fall asleep, don’t leave me'”.
Al Jazeera reported that Khalil had received threats in 2024 over her coverage of the conflict, warning she was being tracked.
“We know where you are, and we will reach you when the time comes. Even though you are not important to us, in the end, we will take everything into account. I suggest you flee to Qatar or someplace else if you want to keep your head connected to your neck,” the message had read.
Israeli military responded to the killing by claiming the strikes were carried out after two vehicles were seen leaving a site connected to the Hezbollah group and crossing a “forward defence line” in southern Lebanon. According to their statement, the vehicles approached soldiers “in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” prompting them to strike one of the cars and later, a nearby building. The military insisted that it does not target journalists.
