Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil's body was brought back to her hometown of Baisariyeh in the early hours of Thursday (April 23), after Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday (April 22) killed her and wounded a photographer accompanying her, according to a senior Lebanese military official and Khalil's employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper. Khalil will be laid to rest later on Thursday.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Khalil's death. Earlier, the Israeli military said in a statement it had received reports that two journalists were injured as a result of its strikes.

The death of Khalil, 43, brought the death toll on Wednesday to five people. It was the deadliest day since a 10-day ceasefire was announced on April 16 to halt hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near the town of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle in front of them. They ran into a nearby house, which was then also targeted by an Israeli strike, Lebanon's health ministry, the senior Lebanese military official and press advocates said.

Lebanese rescuers were able to retrieve Faraj, who had suffered a head wound, according to Elsy Moufarrej, who runs the Union of Journalists in Lebanon.

When rescuers returned to help Khalil, the Israeli military dropped a sound grenade, blocking their access to the damaged building, Moufarrej and the senior military official said.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the targeting of journalists and the obstruction of relief efforts constituted "war crimes."

"Lebanon will spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies," he said on X.

The health ministry said Israel's military "prevented the completion of the humanitarian mission by firing a sound grenade and live ammunition at the ambulance."

Rescuers were able to return to the site about four hours after the initial strike. After another three hours of searching through the rubble, they were able to retrieve her lifeless body, the senior military official said.

Al-Akhbar announced her death on its website.

In its earlier statement, the Israeli military denied it prevented rescue teams from reaching the area.

Archive footage of Amal Khalil, a journalist killed by Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday (April 22) showed her reporting from the field for the local newspaper Al-Akhbar.

Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed Khalil and wounded a photographer accompanying her, according to a senior Lebanese military official and Khalil's employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on Khalil's death. Earlier, the Israeli military said in a statement it had received reports that two journalists were injured as a result of its strikes.

The death of Khalil, 43, brought the death toll on Wednesday to five people. It was the deadliest day since a 10-day ceasefire was announced on April 16 to halt hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near the town of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle in front of them. They ran into a nearby house, which was then also targeted by an Israeli strike, Lebanon's health ministry, the senior Lebanese military official and press advocates said.

Lebanese rescuers were able to retrieve Faraj, who had suffered a head wound, according to Elsy Moufarrej, who runs the Union of Journalists in Lebanon.

When rescuers returned to help Khalil, the Israeli military dropped a sound grenade, blocking their access to the damaged building, Moufarrej and the senior military official said.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the targeting of journalists and the obstruction of relief efforts constituted "war crimes."

"Lebanon will spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies," he said on X.

The health ministry said Israel's military "prevented the completion of the humanitarian mission by firing a sound grenade and live ammunition at the ambulance."

Rescuers were able to return to the site about four hours after the initial strike. After another three hours of searching through the rubble, they were able to retrieve her lifeless body, the senior military official said.

Al-Akhbar announced her death on its website.

In its earlier statement, the Israeli military denied it prevented rescue teams from reaching the area.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

EBNINE, LEBANON (APRIL 22, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. LEBANESE RED CROSS AMBULANCE PARKED IN FRONT OF HOSPITAL, TRANSPORTING THE BODY OF JOURNALIST AMAL KHALIL AFTER SHE WAS KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES ON SOUTHERN LEBANON, ACCORDING TO A SENIOR LEBANESE MILITARY OFFICIAL AND KHALIL'S EMPLOYER, THE AL-AKHBAR NEWSPAPER

2. VARIOUS OF PARAMEDICS CARRYING KHALIL'S BODY ON A STRETCHER INTO HOSPITAL

3. PARAMEDICS GETTING KHALIL'S BODY OUT OF HOSPITAL AND PLACING IT BACK INTO AMBULANCE

BAISARIYEH, LEBANON (APRIL 23, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

4. VARIOUS OF CONVOY, INCLUDING AMBULANCE TRANSPORTING KHALIL'S BODY, DRIVING WITH PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND AND THROWING RICE (A LOCAL RITUAL) / AUDIO OF AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING

5. PEOPLE WALKING BEHIND AMBULANCE / AUDIO OF AMBULANCE SIREN WAILING

6. PEOPLE CARRYING KHALIL'S BODY OUT OF AMBULANCE

7. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING PARAMEDICS, CARRYING KHALIL'S BODY INTO HER HOME

UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, LEBANON (ARCHIVE) (AL-AKHBAR - Access all) (MUTE)

1. JOURNALIST, AMAL KHALIL, WEARING PRESS HELMET AND VEST, HOLDING MOBILE PHONE

2. KHALIL DURING FIELD REPORTING, WEARING PRESS HELMET AND VEST

3. KHALIL DRIVING CAR, WEARING PRESS HELMET AND VEST

4. KHALIL HOLDING AL-AKHBAR NEWSPAPER MICROPHONE, SMILING

5. KHALIL STANDING IN FRONT OF A SIGN READING (English): 'Ebel Elsaki' (SOUTHERN LEBANESE VILLAGE)

6. SLOW MOTION FOOTAGE OF KHALIL HOLDING MICROPHONE, WALKING

7. KHALIL LISTENING TO MAN TALKING

8. KHALIL WALKING PAST RUBBLE

9. VARIOUS OF KHALIL WALKING

10. KHALIL WEARING PRESS HELMET AND VEST, DURING FIELD REPORTING

11. KHALIL MAKING HER WAY THROUGH RUBBLE OF DAMAGED BUILDING