A British journalist working for Russian state broadcaster RT narrowly escaped death when an Israeli missile exploded near his reporting position in southern Lebanon. Steve Sweeney, RT's Lebanon bureau chief, and his cameraman were hit by shrapnel and are being treated in hospital.
The incident was captured on live footage, verified by outlets including the BBC, showing the missile landing and Sweeney diving to the ground. RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan stated on X that an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) plane fired on the car carrying Sweeney and his cameraman as they crossed a bridge in southern Lebanon.
The IDF issued a statement saying an explicit warning had been given about the Qasmiya crossing area and that the strike occurred after sufficient time had passed. The IDF reiterated it does not target civilians or journalists and operates in accordance with international law.
RT, formerly Russia Today, has been banned in multiple EU countries and Canada since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is frequently described as a propaganda outlet for the Russian government. Lebanese authorities report nearly 1,000 deaths and one million displaced since Israeli air strikes and incursions began this month in response to Hezbollah rocket attacks.
