Steve Sweeney RT broadcast interrupted by missile strike in southern Lebanon amid rising Middle East tensions
As instability grows in the Middle East, a live television broadcast from southern Lebanon was abruptly cut off after a missile struck a reporter meters behind him.
RT reporter Steve Sweeney was holding a live cross when the sound of an incoming bullet was heard. Within seconds, the missile hit nearby, sending debris and dust into the air, knocking both reporter and cameraman Ali Rıza to the ground.
The two were reporting the destruction of a bridge in southern Lebanon targeted by ongoing Israeli attacks in connection with its campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
In a later video, Mr Sweeney claimed the attack was a “precision strike by Israeli fighter jets”.
“We were treated at the hospital due to our injuries,” he said.
“I had a shrapnel wound on my arm, buried deep in the rush here, dug out, and here it is, in this pot.”
Advocacy groups are calling for an investigation into the strike as journalists operating in active conflict zones continue to face risks.
RT, formerly known as Russia Today, has been banned in the European Union since 2022 over concerns it broadcast disinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The attack came as the conflict in Lebanon continues to intensify, with Israel targeting Hezbollah and terrorist cells in Iran.
More than a million people, or about 20 percent of the population, have been displaced and more than 1,000 people have been reported killed, according to Lebanese government figures.
Israel says it has killed more than 500 Hezbollah militants as part of its operations, while Israeli officials report casualties from Iranian missile attacks, including deaths in the country and the occupied West Bank.
The conflict has escalated into a broader regional conflict beyond Lebanon. Iran has stepped up its attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf, increasing tensions and putting pressure on global energy markets.
The targeting of energy assets has increased existing concerns over supply, particularly as Iran continues to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil.
Since the conflict began on February 28, air strikes have significantly weakened Iran’s leadership and military capabilities. Despite this, the country retains the ability to launch missile and drone strikes, raising the possibility of further instability in the region and beyond.
with AP
