Israeli military forces struck a vehicle in the Israeli-held security zone of southern Lebanon on Saturday, targeting what they said was a car used by militants, according to an IDF statement released later that day. The strike occurred near the border town of Marjayoun, where Israeli troops have maintained a presence since the escalation of hostilities with Hezbollah began in October 2023. The military said the vehicle was hit after intelligence indicated it was transporting individuals linked to armed groups operating in the area.
Following the strike on the car, Israeli forces said they identified a nearby building in the same zone where they believed militants had fled after the vehicle was struck. The IDF said it then targeted the structure, asserting it was being used by those who had exited the vehicle. The military did not disclose the specific nature of the building’s use prior to the strike, nor did it release evidence showing militant activity inside.
Amal Khalil, a photographer working for the pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Ahed, was accompanying a journalist in the vicinity when the building was struck. Khalil sustained a head wound from shrapnel during the attack and was evacuated by medical personnel to a hospital in Tyre for treatment. His condition was described as stable but requiring observation, according to a statement from Al-Ahed’s editorial office released Sunday morning.
The body of another journalist affiliated with Al-Ahed, identified as Mohamad Ali Daher, was later recovered from the rubble of a residential structure in the same area that had been struck by Israeli fire. The Times of Israel reported that Daher’s body was pulled from the debris by Lebanese civil defense teams several hours after the strike. Al-Ahed confirmed his death in a brief statement, identifying him as a field reporter covering the southern front.
Lebanese officials have not issued an official casualty count from the incident, and the Lebanese Ministry of Information declined to comment on the targeting of media personnel when contacted by multiple international news outlets. The IDF has not responded to requests for clarification regarding whether journalists were known to be in the building prior to the strike, or whether precautions were taken to avoid harming civilians or press.
International press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have called for an independent investigation into the strike, citing concerns over the safety of media workers in conflict zones. Neither organization has accused the IDF of intentional targeting, but both have urged adherence to international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians and journalists during military operations.
The Israeli military has maintained that its actions in southern Lebanon are directed exclusively at Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives, and that it takes measures to avoid civilian harm. It has not provided further details on the intelligence that led to the strikes on the vehicle or the building, nor has it released footage or targeting data from the operation.
As of Monday, no formal inquiry into the incident has been announced by either Israeli or Lebanese authorities. The IDF continues to operate in the security zone, conducting periodic patrols and surveillance along the border, although Hezbollah has not issued a public statement regarding the deaths of Daher or the injury to Khalil.
