19.03.2026 16:50
The Russia Today team, which was following the news near the Al-Qasimiye Bridge in southern Lebanon, came under missile attack from Israel during a live broadcast. Reporter Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were targeted despite clearly wearing "Press" labels. The moment of the attack was recorded second by second thanks to Sweeney being live on air. The journalists, injured by shrapnel, were treated at the hospital they were taken to. Moscow reacted strongly to the attack.
The Russia Today (RT) team, which was following the news near the Al-Qasimiye Bridge in southern Lebanon, became a direct target of the Israeli army. Reporter Steve Sweeney and cameraman Ali Rida were injured in the missile attack, despite having the clear "Press" label on them.
THEY HELD ON WITH A DISTANCE OF 10 METERS
As the moment of the attack was captured on camera second by second, it was seen that the missile fell just 10 meters away from reporter Sweeney.
The Israeli missile attack occurred just as Sweeney was saying, "A drone was flying above us a few minutes ago. They usually do this to identify a target, then an airstrike or artillery fire follows. Right now, exactly..." The RT reporter and cameraman were attacked before they could finish their words. The fear and panic experienced by Sweeney were also captured in full by the camera.
The journalists, who were injured by shrapnel, were treated at a local hospital where they were taken. Cameraman Ali Rida emphasized that the attack was intentional, stating, "We were wearing press clothing. They targeted us deliberately."
HARSH RESPONSE FROM MOSCOW: "THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE"
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the attack targeted journalists directly, not a strategic point, and called on the international community to take action.
Zakharova said, "In an environment where hundreds of journalists have been killed in Gaza, what happened cannot be a coincidence."