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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a> (CPJ). <\/p>\n\n\n\n CPJ, a New York-based press freedom organization, said the two were covering Israel\u2019s renewed strikes in Lebanon after the war with Iran began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sweeney later said he was treated for shrapnel wounds to his arms. \u201cI\u2019m amazed that we survived. We were incredibly lucky to come away with the injuries we did,\u201d he said on air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rida said Israeli forces had \u201cdeliberately attacked\u201d the crew despite their wearing uniforms showing press credentials. Sweeney said: \u201cThis was a deliberate, targeted attack. There is no question about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJournalists are civilians and must never be targeted – this is a clear binding legal obligation,\u201d CPJ regional director Sara Qudah said. \u201cStriking 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n