Russia Rebukes Israel's Fatal Drone Strike on Lebanese Journalist

(MENAFN) Russia has issued a sharp condemnation of the killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, describing the incident as a deliberate Israeli drone strike that violated both international law and an active ceasefire agreement, according to a statement released by the Russian Embassy to Lebanon.

"On April 22, as a result of an Israeli drone strike in the settlement of Tyre in the south of the republic, journalist Amal Khalil of the well-known Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar was killed, and her colleague Zeinab Faraj was wounded. All circumstances of the incident indicate that the attack was targeted," the embassy said.

The embassy did not stop at condemnation, framing the strike as a brazen violation of wartime protections for press workers. "We strongly condemn this unlawful act against journalists. Media workers are protected under international law and must not become targets in armed conflicts. What happened looks particularly cynical in the context of the ceasefire regime currently in effect in Lebanon," it said.

Khalil was killed Wednesday while on assignment in Tyre, the Red Cross confirmed. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli forces surrounded both Khalil and her colleague Zeinab Faraj, allegedly blocking the Red Cross and the Lebanese army from reaching the wounded journalists.

Faraj was eventually rescued and transported to hospital, where she underwent head surgery. She also reportedly sustained a fractured leg and is currently listed in stable condition.

The strike comes amid a catastrophic escalation in Lebanon that has claimed more than 2,200 lives and displaced over one million people since March 2, following intensified Israeli military operations tied to the broader Iran war, according to official figures — and critically, attacks have continued despite a US-mediated ceasefire that took effect on April 16.

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