RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida experienced a near miss during an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Thursday, narrowly avoiding serious injury or death when a munition landed just metres behind Sweeney as he dived for cover, with the camera left upturned pointing at the sky after the explosion.
The incident, captured live on broadcast, has become a focal point in the broader Israel-Lebanon conflict unfolding around the war with Iran. An Israeli aircraft fired a missile at their position near Al-Qasmiya Bridge, not far from a military base, as the crew documented damage from Israeli bombing campaigns in the region.
RT said that Lebanon bureau chief Steve Sweeney and the camera operator were lightly wounded in the strike. Doctors treated Sweeney by removing shrapnel from his right arm. Cameraman Ali Rida later commented that "you can hear the missile when it's flying at you", suggesting the pair had moments to react before impact.
The immediate aftermath has triggered competing claims about intent. Rida said without evidence that Israeli forces "deliberately attacked" the crew, though they wore uniforms identifying them as members of the media. The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation into the apparent targeting of the crew, who were injured when an Israeli air strike hit just feet away from where they were filming while wearing clearly marked press gear and with their equipment clearly visible.
Israel's position differs markedly. The Israel Defense Force denied targeting the RT crew by the Qasmiya bridge and said it gave public warnings to civilians in the area prior to the strikes, stating that "an explicit warning had been issued regarding this area" and "the crossing was struck after sufficient time had passed since warnings".
The incident sits within a broader context of bridge targeting in the conflict. On Wednesday, Israel explicitly threatened to target bridges in southern Lebanon, with the military stating it aimed to hit crossings over the Litani River to prevent Hezbollah from moving reinforcements and weapons south, and declared the area south of the Zahrani River a military zone, warning that any vehicle there could also be targeted.
Russian officials have disputed the Israeli account. Moscow's Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed the strike was not incidental, though such allegations remain unverified. The Russian Embassy in Lebanon stated that "attacks on media personnel carrying out editorial assignments are unacceptable" and that "journalists are protected under international law and must not be targeted in armed conflicts", adding that "the incident undoubtedly warrants categorical condemnation and a thorough investigation".
The question of whether the strike was deliberate remains contested. The fact pattern supports different interpretations. Those arguing for deliberate targeting point to footage verified by outlets including the BBC, the crew's marked position, and their press credentials. Those accepting Israel's account note the public warnings issued and the area's military significance, where at least three major bridges over the Litani have been destroyed so far, one connected to the city of Tyre, while another south of Nabatieh has effectively cut off large parts of southern Lebanon.
For journalists operating in conflict zones, the incident underscores the risks facing media workers when covering active military operations. RT said its crew had "miraculously survived" and were being treated in hospital, though both were discharged with non-life-threatening injuries. The broader implications for press freedom and access to conflict reporting in Lebanon remain uncertain as the conflict continues to reshape the country's geography and displace its population.