Russian state media reporter, cameraman injured in Israeli strike in Lebanon

A British reporter for RT, the Russian state-backed television network, and his cameraman were injured in an Israeli strike while filming in southern Lebanon, according to the outlet.

The strike happened near the Qasmiya crossing in southern Lebanon, north of the coastal city of Tyre, as RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were filming in the area, according to RT and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

CPJ, a New York-based press freedom organization, said the two were covering Israel’s renewed strikes in Lebanon after the war with Iran began.

Video filmed by Rida captured the moment the strike hit behind Sweeney while he was recording a report. The outlet said the blast landed about 33 feet behind him. RT also released video it said showed doctors removing shrapnel from Sweeney’s arm.

Sweeney later said he was treated for shrapnel wounds to his arms. “I’m amazed that we survived. We were incredibly lucky to come away with the injuries we did,” he said on air.

Rida said Israeli forces had “deliberately attacked” the crew despite their wearing uniforms showing press credentials. Sweeney said: “This was a deliberate, targeted attack. There is no question about it.”

CPJ called for an investigation into what it described as the apparent targeting of the journalists. The group said the two men were wearing clearly marked press gear and that their equipment was plainly visible when the strike hit.

“Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted – this is a clear binding legal obligation,” CPJ regional director Sara Qudah said. “Striking reporters who are clearly marked as a press constitutes a violation of international law. The Israeli military has repeatedly failed to protect them, raising serious concerns about compliance with its legal obligations.”

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted crossings on the Litani River that Hezbollah used to move fighters and transport weapons, including rockets and launchers meant for attacks on Israeli troops and civilians.

The IDF said warnings were issued before the strike telling civilians to leave the area. It said video later showed a journalist at the Qasmiya crossing and said that location had been under an explicit warning. The military said the crossing was struck after enough time had passed and was hit again at 12:30 p.m.

“The IDF does not target civilians or journalists and operates in accordance with international law,” the military said.