Russia Today correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were nearly struck by an Israeli missile on Thursday while reporting from Southern Lebanon.
The outlet described the incident as “a DELIBERATE TARGETED ATTACK on journalists.”
“There’s no mistake about it,” they said. “This was an Israeli precision strike FROM A FIGHTER JET — RT corr Steve Sweeney who was wounded earlier today.”
While reporting on the ground, the missile could be heard approaching before landing right behind him as he braced for cover. “F*cking hell,” he exclaimed after the massive blast.
Watch the video here.
Per Deadline:
Here’s the moment a British reporter from Russian state broadcaster RT narrowly escaped serious injury or death when an Israeli missile landed just meters away from his reporting position.
RT, formerly Russia Today, said Steve Sweeney, its Lebanon bureau chief, and his cameraman had “miraculously survived” and were being treated in hospital. The footage, which has been verified by outlets including the BBC, shows the missile landing and Sweeney hitting the deck in a shower of shrapnel before uttering expletives.
There have been ongoing Israeli air strikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon as Israel and the U.S. continue to strike Iran and its allies in the Middle East.
Lebanese authorities say that close to 1,000 people have been killed and one million displaced since Israeli air strikes and incursions began in the country earlier this month in response to Hezbollah rockets fired into Israel after the U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran.
Russia Today editor in-chief Margarita Simonyan said in an X post, “Our correspondent Steve Sweeney has been wounded by an Israeli strike in Lebanon. He says an IDF plane fired upon the car carrying Steve and his cameraman, as they were crossing a bridge in the south of the country. Both men are conscious in hospital, doctors are diagnosing extent of shrapnel damage.”
The Israeli Defense Force responded with a statment, writing, “In footage released in the past few hours, a journalist is seen at the Qasmiya crossing. An explicit warning had been issued regarding this area. The crossing was struck after sufficient time had passed since warnings. The crossing was again targeted today [Thursday] at 12:30. The IDF does not target civilians or journalists and operates in accordance with international law.”
Developing…
The post WHOA! Russia Today Reporters Nearly Hit by Israeli Missile in Southern Lebanon (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.