Two journalists struck by missiles in southern Lebanon during ceasefire

One of the two journalists trapped under rubble described the weight pressing down on her body as a sensation of being crushed, a detail that underscores the severity of the strike that killed her colleague.

The attack occurred on the afternoon of April 22, just days after Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Lebanon. The truce had allowed residents of southern Lebanon to return to areas where villages had been demolished. Two women, Zeinab Faraj, 21, and Amal Khalil, 42, were driving through the region to document the aftermath. They were accompanied by Ali Nabil Bazzi, 27, a municipal official, and Mohammed Hourani, 37, a friend of the mayor. The group had met at Tebnine governmental hospital, which locals viewed as a safe gathering point.

Faraj, a photojournalist finishing her degree in radio and television, and Khalil, a newspaper reporter, had a prior working relationship. Faraj recalled feeling no fear initially, noting that gunfire and artillery sounds were part of the documentation process. They were approaching the village of al-Tiri when the first missile struck the car ahead of them, setting it on fire. Faraj ran toward the vehicle, hoping to pull Bazzi out, while Khalil repeated, "Oh God, they’re gone."

Drones began circling low overhead as the two women called emergency services. Paramedics assured them help was on the way, but also instructed them to drive back up the road because ambulances were blocked. As the women attempted to re-enter their vehicle, a second missile struck it. Both were thrown backward. Khalil sustained visible injuries to her face, hand, and leg. Faraj sent a final message to her sister stating, "There’s no hope left. Forgive me," before her phone battery died.

They took shelter in a nearby house. Faraj crawled to a position to watch the road while Khalil remained on the bathroom floor. A drone descended sharply, causing Faraj to feel a sudden terror. Later, a missile fell, and Faraj lost consciousness. She woke up trapped beneath rubble, struggling to breathe. A paramedic reached the site and held her shoulders until a second worker cleared the debris. They pulled her free as drones returned and a stun grenade dropped nearby.

At the hospital, nurses initially reassured Faraj about Khalil’s condition before falling silent. Khalil is believed to have died about an hour before paramedics could return to the area. The Israeli military stated the attack targeted saboteurs violating the ceasefire. Human rights groups labeled the incident a war crime. A week prior to the strike, an Israeli military spokesperson had shared a video of Khalil from her newspaper, describing it as "terrorist media."

Faraj is now preparing to return to university. She suffers from a limp and visible injuries to her face and hand. She wakes at night screaming and remains on edge at the sound of drones. She recalls Hourani lying on the ground with his eyes open, an image she says she will never forget.