Lebanon airstrike: Zeinab Faraj recalls hours waiting for help after Israeli strike

A Lebanese journalist injured in an Israeli airstrike that killed a colleague described a long wait for rescue. Zeinab Faraj spoke to The Associated Press on Friday from a Beirut hospital. Faraj said the attack happened while Faraj and Amal Khalil were reporting after a ceasefire. Faraj said three separate strikes hit their area in al-Tiri.

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Faraj, a freelance photographer and video journalist, often worked with Khalil in southern Lebanon. Khalil was a longtime correspondent for Al-Akhbar. Faraj said they drove on Wednesday behind a relative in al-Tiri. The village is about 8 kilometres from the Israel border. The trip came five days after a truce began between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel-Hezbollah war and ceasefire details

Faraj said the first strike hit the car in front as the group passed through the village. Faraj said Khalil held a phone outside the window to film. Faraj said both journalists stopped and left their vehicle. They crouched by the roadside while a drone stayed overhead. About an hour later, Faraj said a second strike hit Khalil’s car beside them.

Faraj said the pair hid inside a nearby shop after opening its metal shutter. Faraj said Khalil crawled while wounded in the nose, head, shoulder, and leg. Faraj said Khalil also suffered burns after the nearby car caught fire. Faraj said they called family and colleagues. Faraj said contacts began with the Red Cross, army, UNIFIL, and Israel.

Faraj said exhaustion set in while they waited for safe passage. "When I said I wanted to go to sleep, Amal came closer and hugged me and told me, Zeinab, dont leave me alone,\" Faraj said. Faraj said Khalil’s face colour changed during the wait. Faraj said this suggested internal bleeding. Faraj said a third strike later hit the building.

Israeli strike and delayed rescue efforts

Faraj said the blast threw Faraj out, while Khalil stayed trapped inside. \"I was in and out of consciousness, and then I thought my dad had come to get me and I began calling to him, Baba, Im here, come and help me,\" Faraj said. A rescue team later pulled Faraj from rubble. The team also removed two bodies from the first car strike.

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli forces opened fire on a Red Cross ambulance sent for Khalil. The ministry said the ambulance turned back. Israel’s military said people in the village violated the ceasefire and endangered troops. Israel’s military denied targeting journalists or blocking rescue. Israel’s military said the incident was under review.

Faraj said Faraj did not know Khalil was left behind until hours later. Shortly before midnight, the Lebanese army, civil defence, and the Lebanese Red Cross reached the site. After clearance, they recovered Khalil’s body from the rubble. Faraj said faster access might have changed the outcome. Faraj said, \"Amal would be here today.\"

Journalists, Al-Akhbar, and targeting claims

Faraj said Faraj believed the journalists were deliberately targeted. Faraj said Khalil had publicly described threats during coverage in the 2024 war. Faraj said the messages came from an Israeli number. It was unclear who sent the messages. The Israeli army did not immediately answer a request for comment. The allegation remained unverified in the account.

Days before Khalil’s death, Avichay Adraee reposted an Al-Akhbar video on X. The clip showed Khalil rescuing a cat from rubble. Adraee called the paper terrorist media speaking on behalf of Hezbollah. Adraee also called the newspaper the devil because it has a pro-Hezbollah editorial line. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the post was incitement.

The watchdog said international humanitarian law protects journalists as civilians. It said protection applies regardless of outlet positions or links. It said protection stands if journalists do not join hostilities directly. It said there was no evidence Khalil or Faraj took part in hostilities. The group called for an international investigation into Khalil’s killing.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2 after Hezbollah fired missiles over the border. This came two days after the US and Israel launched their war on Iran. Israel then carried out wide bombardment in Lebanon and launched a ground invasion. Since the truce, Israeli forces still hold a border strip about 10 km inside Lebanon.

Israel has described that strip as a buffer zone for northern towns. Despite the ceasefire, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued to launch strikes. Lebanon’s information ministry said nine journalists have been killed by Israeli strikes since March 2. Nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 277 women and 177 children.

Lebanon’s toll also included 100 health workers, the ministry said. On the Israeli side, 15 soldiers and three civilians have been killed. Faraj remained in hospital in Beirut with facial swelling and bruises. Faraj’s account described repeated strikes, long negotiations for access, and a late recovery of Khalil’s body after clearance was granted.

With inputs from PTI