Lebanese photojournalist trapped under rubble after missile strike

A month after Israel agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, a strike in the village of al-Tiri killed a veteran reporter and left a young photojournalist trapped under debris. The attack occurred on the afternoon of April 22, despite the recent truce that had allowed civilians to return to southern areas to assess the damage of the war.

Zeinab Faraj, 21, was traveling with Amal Khalil, 42, and two local men when the first missile hit a car ahead of them. The vehicle caught fire, and the two women stepped out to assess the situation. Drones then descended low over the scene, circling while the journalists called emergency services for help. Paramedics told the pair to get into their car and drive up the road because ambulances were blocked from reaching their position.

As Faraj and Khalil attempted to enter the vehicle, a second missile struck the car. The impact threw both women backward, and Khalil wrapped her arms around Faraj. They took shelter in a nearby house, where Faraj sent a final message to her sister saying there was no hope left. Inside, a drone descended again, and shortly after, a third missile hit the building. Faraj lost consciousness and woke to find herself crushed under rubble, struggling to breathe in the darkness.

A paramedic reached the scene and held Faraj by the shoulders as a second worker cleared the debris. The team pulled her free just as a stun grenade was dropped by a drone. Faraj was transported to a hospital, where nurses initially tried to reassure her about her colleague. They fell silent when asked about Khalil's status, a cue Faraj recognized as confirmation of death. Khalil is believed to have died approximately one hour before the paramedics were permitted to return to the area to rescue Faraj.

The Israeli military stated that the attack targeted saboteurs violating the ceasefire. Human rights groups have labeled the strike a war crime. An Israeli military spokesperson had described Khalil as "terrorist media" one week prior to the incident. Khalil had also received death threats from Israeli phone numbers in the period leading up to the attack.

Faraj is preparing to return to university to finish her degree in radio and television. She suffers from visible injuries to her hand and face, with one eyebrow affected by a wound. She currently walks with a limp and wakes at night screaming from the trauma. She reports that the sound of drones still causes her distress, and she remains haunted by the image of one of the men in the other car looking at her after the first strike.