Journalists covering Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon narrowly escaped a life-threatening incident on Thursday. A missile exploded just a few meters away from a Russia Today (RT) reporter, Steve Sweeney, and cameraman Ali Rida Sbeity, leaving both injured.
According to reports, the journalists were covering Israeli attacks near the Al-Khasmiya bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon. They were clearly wearing “Press” jackets, identifying them as media personnel. Suddenly, a missile struck very close to their location, causing a massive explosion.
Both individuals sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Their condition is currently reported to be stable.
Russia strongly condemned the incident. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleged that the strike was not accidental but a deliberate attempt to target journalists. The injured cameraman also claimed that the attack appeared intentional.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike, stating that the bridge was being used for weapons transportation, which justified the attack. The IDF added that prior warnings had been issued to evacuate the area and insisted that civilians and journalists were not the intended targets.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for an independent investigation into the incident, which has now drawn international attention.
