A British journalist has claimed Israel tried to kill him after footage showed an airstrike narrowly missing the reporter and his cameraman in southern Lebanon.
Steven Sweeney said he was reporting on the country’s “forced displacement of 1 million people” and Israel’s “ethnic cleansing” campaign in Lebanon when he says he was deliberately targeted by Israel.
In the footage of the attack, the journalist is seen wearing a flak jacket with the word “Press” emblazoned on the front as he reports for the Russian state media outlet RT.
Sweeney has disputed initial Israeli claims that they had warned civilians of the air strike, instead suggesting on social media that Israel was trying to “silence journalists” who document “their war crimes”.
Sweeney later spoke on the phone to Lebanese information minister Paul Morcos, claiming the strike was a targeted attack on journalists.
Asked if he thought the strike was deliberately targeted, he said: “Almost certainly. One hundred per cent it was on purpose. They knew that we were on the bridge, they can see, they know everything that happens here in the south [of Lebanon]. They monitor every movement. They knew we were there.”
The Israel Defense Forces have denied targeting journalists or civilians in the region and said a warning had been issued to evacuate the area.
The IDF defended the airstrike on social media, claiming they were targeting Litani River crossings used by Hezbollah. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
“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 force said.
“The crossing was struck after sufficient time had passed since warnings. The crossing was again targeted today at 12:30. The IDF calls on the residents of Lebanon to heed the warnings published on various platforms.”
The IDF added that it does not “target civilians or journalists”, a claim disputed by human rights groups and international organisations.
Following the strike, several figures have also called out Israel for its actions.
In the UK, independent MP Ayoub Khan claimed the strike was: “Clearly attempt[ed] assassination!
“No other target except press! Wearing a blue press vest is probably not a good idea when it comes to the IDF!”
The journalist’s editor has also alleged the IDF fired on Mr Sweeney’s car while he reported from the region.
“Our correspondent Steve Sweeney has been wounded by an Israeli strike in Lebanon,” wrote Margarita Simonyan.
“He says an IDF plane fired upon the car carrying Steve and his cameraman, as they were crossing a bridge in the south of the country. Both men are conscious in hospital, doctors are diagnosing extent of shrapnel damage. War journalists are not legitimate targets. We pray for them.”
Nearly one million Lebanese civilians have been displaced from their homes in southern Lebanon by Israel as the IDF continues its offensive against Hezbollah.
Israel, which has occupied parts of Lebanon in previous decades, has also been accused of targeting civilian infrastructure in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
Hezbollah, a group formed in 1982 in response to Israel’s previous invasion of Lebanon and designated a terror organisation by the UK, has also repeatedly fired into Israeli territory.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 129 members of the press were killed in 2025, two-thirds of whom were killed by Israeli forces.
