Lebanon: Photojournalist survives drone strike during ceasefire visit

Zeinab Faraj, a 21-year-old photojournalist, survived a missile and drone attack in southern Lebanon on April 22, 2026, while documenting the region with colleague Amal Khalil. Khalil, a 42-year-old newspaper reporter, was killed in the strike.

The two women traveled to the village of al-Tiri after a ceasefire halted a month of airstrikes. They joined a car carrying Ali Nabil Bazzi, a 27-year-old municipal official in Bint Jbeil, and Mohammed Hourani, 37, a friend of the mayor. The group had met at Tebnine governmental hospital earlier that day. Faraj grew up in the nearby city of Bint Jbeil and described the area as central to her life.

A missile struck the lead vehicle, killing Bazzi and Hourani. Faraj and Khalil exited their car to check on the victims. Drones appeared and flew low over the group. Emergency services told them help was on the way, but paramedics later instructed them to drive back up the road because ambulances were blocked.

As the women attempted to re-enter their vehicle, a second missile hit the car. Both were thrown backward. They took shelter in a nearby house. Khalil sustained visible injuries to her face, hand, and leg. Faraj sent a message to her sister saying, “There’s no hope left. Forgive me,” before her phone died.

While sheltering in a bathroom, a drone descended toward Faraj. A subsequent missile impact left her trapped under rubble. A paramedic reached the scene and held her by the shoulders while a second paramedic cleared the debris. Faraj was pulled free as a stun grenade was dropped by a drone nearby.

At the hospital, nurses eventually fell silent when Faraj asked about Khalil’s condition. Khalil died approximately one hour before paramedics were allowed to return to the area. The Israeli military stated the attack targeted saboteurs violating the ceasefire. Human rights groups called the incident a war crime. An Israeli military spokesperson had previously labeled Khalil “terrorist media” in a video shared a week before the attack.

Faraj is returning to university but continues to treat her injuries. She has a limp and visible damage to her hand and face. She reports waking at night screaming and feeling anxious at the sound of aircraft. She remains haunted by the image of Hourani’s eyes open on the ground.