A Russian reporter and his cameraman were injured when an Israeli strike hit just metres from their filming spot in southern Lebanon. The blast, captured on camera, showed correspondent Steve Sweeney scrambling for cover as thick smoke engulfs the area.
Sweeney, and his cameraman, Ali Rida, were filming near Al-Qasmiya Bridge, which is near to a local military base. Both are conscious and receiving medical aid at a local hospital, Russian channel RT reported.
Rida also shared another video, showing doctors removing shrapnel from Sweeney’s arm. In a separate video, the cameraman said that he and Sweeney joked that when a missile flies at one, “you can hear it”.
Rida also alleged that Israeli forces intentionally attacked them despite their uniforms showcasing their press credentials.
The Al-Qasmiya Bridge is a vital crossing point over the River Litani, which has been witnessing massive Israeli strikes over the past few days. Israel has stepped up strikes on southern Lebanon recently, destroying two bridges over the river that connects the region with the rest of the country. The Israeli military has claimed that the crossings are being used by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah to move fighters and weapons.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has condemned Israel for the strike, saying the attack on journalists wearing press jackets “cannot be called accidental” considering the killing of 200 correspondents in Gaza.
“Especially since the rocket did not hit a ‘significant strategic military facility’, but rather the location where the report was being filmed,” she posted on Telegram, adding that Moscow was waiting for a response from the international organisation.
Israel, meanwhile, said that repeated warnings were given for civilians to leave the area where the strike happened, and that the missile was launched after sufficient time had passed.
“Prior to the strikes, warnings were published to ensure that civilians distance themselves from the crossings, in order to reduce civilian harm. 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 at 12:30,” the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.
It further called for Lebanon residents to pay attention to the warnings. Israel also reiterated that it does not target civilians or journalists and operates in line with international law.
The Lebanese Health Ministry has said that deaths in the country due to Israeli strikes have shot up to 1,001 since March 2.
