Steve Sweeney

As a foreign journalist that lives and works in Lebanon I never wanted to be the centre of attention. After Israel launched an attack on me and my dear friend @AliRida_SB I was unwittingly catapulted into the limelight. I have never courted "fame" and until recently not engaged too much in social media, which, while it has positives, is a breeding ground for misinformation and a proliferation of grifters speaking over the top of the people to whom this land belongs. Over the past years I have made hundreds of films, but always raised the voices of the people, centring them and as a journalist for an international news organisation endeavoured to bring their stories to the world. It is a basic journalistic principle and one I try my best to adhere to. More often than not war ends up as a cash cow for influencers, YouTubers and the like seeking internet fame and donations to allow them to continue their “work”. Sadly they often have no regard for the people on whose land they are treading or their safety - rarely, if ever, bothering to speak to them. Lebanon is not “a war zone”. It is a land that belongs to its people. The “bombed out buildings” you pose in front of are people’s homes, their businesses, their lives and should be treated with dignity and respect - not simply a place for crass “hero shots” This is the land soaked in the blood of thousands of martyrs, those that have given their lives to defend their homes. We must walk with dignity and humility. We are not and should never be the story. Our job, especially as guests in this country is to raise the voices of the people, not for vanity shots or to promote ourselves as “brave” Unless you are bringing context, history, details and most importantly, speaking to the people then what you are doing becomes nothing more than tourism - exploiting the people for clicks, internet fame or money. Journalists in the field should always defer to their Lebanese peers, the people that live here and know the land better than anyone, not act as “white saviours.” Lebanon has many great journalists, commentators, analysts, writers whose knowledge is invaluable to understand this country and its history. We stand on the shoulders of giants and for as long as we are in the field our mic will remain the tribune of the people. For updates and analysis follow: @AliRida_SB @samerhajali @AmalKhalil83 @HadiHtt @Marwa__Osman @Leila1H @HalaJaber @HasanAtieh1 @aliimortada @radwanmortada @roqchams @EyesOnSouth1 @sayedhashem90 @hasanfakih24 @fatimadaoud @SondossAlAsaad @LaraJBitar @Galgalpheebs @levantupdates @AbdlKamh @smarterleb @HanadyGerges @RaniaKhalek @HusseinSabralb @TamjidKobaissy @AlakhbarNews @manarenglish @mayadeenlebanon @MayadeenEnglish @BasiraPress_ @beirutreview25 @TVFreePalestine I am sorry for those I missed - please add suggestions below

The pick up truck carrying a Syrian family that was hit by an Israeli enemy airstrike yesterday, between Zawtar and Der Seryan, is still in the valley with no ambulance or recue team able to arrive to location. We don't know the situation of the family, but we can say that if anyone survived the attack, they will be suffering injuries and they have short time left to be reached and hospitalized. A 3 level war crime risks becaming the normal here in South lebanon: killing Syrian refugees after displacing them, then banning ambulances from reaching them.

This image strikes a nerve among Israel and its Christian Zionist allies in Lebanon. When Christianity and Islam stand side by side to honor resistance fighters, it disrupts the narrative they rely on; revealing a unity they cannot fracture. In the sanctuary of Lady Mary, where sanctity meets the blood of the fallen… in the town of Bhabouch, Koura district north Lebanon. the town of the resistance fighter martyr Jaafar Ibrahim Salim. Shared from: Koura Division page.

I$rael continues its bombardment of the south of Lebanon with two airstrikes targeting Zawtar al-Sharqiya - courtesy of @AlakhbarNews At least 41 were killed in airstrikes on Saturday, one of the deadliest days in recent weeks while I$rael has now issued “evacuation orders” for some 54 settlements along with the 55 inside its so-called “yellow zone” 1.2 million people remain internally displaced in what is an ethnic cleansing operation. This is Lebanon’s Nakba. There is no ceasefire

LEBANON 🇱🇧 A war of words has broken out between the Israeli Defence Forces and the Catholic Church The IDF have admitted to damaging a convent in Lebanon but stated that it was because there were 'no external signs indicating it was a religious building' The church has rejected Israeli claims that the building was used by Hezbollah, stating: 'We are against all practices against places of worship and churches. These are places to spread peace, love and education. These are not military bases'

اليوم، سنحت لي فرصة زيارة أهل الزميلة الشهيدة آمال خليل في الجنوب وفي هذه الزاوية الصامتة، كان حذاؤها.. حذاءٌ عاديّ في شكله.. لكنه ليس كذلك في معناه.. حذاءٌ مشى نحو الحقيقة ولم يعد مع صاحبته، حمل خطواتها بين القرى والركام، بين الخوف والواجب، بين الحياة التي كانت تناديها.. والموت الذي اختارها شاهدة وشهيدة.. وقفتُ أمامه وسألت نفسي: كم من الشرف يسكن هذا الحذاء؟ كم من القصص اختبأت في غباره؟ كم من الركض سجل نحو إنقاذ الخبر، لا نحو النجاة؟ هذا الحذاء.. مكانه متاحف التاريخ، لأنه أثرٌ من أثرِ من اختارت أن تكون صوتًا حين صار الصمت "سرطان المواقف" وفي أماكن أخرى من هذا الوطن، ستتكدّس أسماءٌ وشاشاتٌ وأصواتٌ باعت ضمائرها، وعملت لسنوات تحت اسم "الصحافة" وما كان لها من الصحافة إلا قشورٌ فارغة من قِيَم الإنسان السامية: "الحق والخير والجمال.." وهذه أيضاً ستدخل التاريخ ولكن من باب مزابله، فهناك فرقٌ شاسع بين من ارتدى الحذاء ليمشي نحو الحقيقة، ومن ارتدى الدور ليخدم الكذب والتشويه تحت مسمّى "الحقيقة". آمال لم تترك لنا فقط حكاية استشهاد، بل تركت معيارًا.. خطًّا فاصلاً بين صحافةٍ تُكتب بالدم، وأخرى تُساوم عليه! رحمكِ الله يا آمال… وخلّد خطواتكِ التي سبقتنا إلى المعنى الذي لا يُكتب بالقلم فقط بل بمسيرة حياة❤️

The observance of World Press Freedom Day is a hollow ritual if we ignore the systematic execution of the people who give it meaning. ​In Lebanon, Israel has carried out a scorched-earth policy designed to eliminate the witnesses to its crimes; our press vests have been reduced to designated targets in Israeli crosshairs. ​​The deliberate killing of our colleagues—including Hajj Ali Shoeib, Fatme Ftouni, Mohammad Ftouni, and Amal Khalil—underscores the reality that reporting from southern Lebanon is an essential and profound act of defiance. While the international community remains paralyzed by a complicit silence that exposes their rhetoric as bankrupt, our journalists continue to pay with their lives to safeguard the integrity of the national narrative against a systematic US-Israeli campaign of historical erasure. ​The sacrifices of our colleagues on the front lines continue to anchor our testimony within the international record. Their legacy constitutes the unbreakable continuity of our voice; it reinforces the reality that as long as the land remains occupied, the duty to document the struggle serves as a vital form of resistance and the purest expression of love for our people. Although the world may choose to look away, the evidence left behind by those on the front lines ensures that the crimes of the occupation are etched permanently into history.

Lebanese Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said that the direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, as well as their outcome, do not concern the resistance group, stressing they will neither implement them nor allow them to pass. He added that any plan targeting the resistance will be confronted and thwarted.

Since dawn, Israel has carried out a wave of attacks targeting southern Lebanese towns and villages including Khiam, Dweir, Jwaya, Srifa, Sharqiyeh, Jibchit, Nmairiyeh, Kfar Dounine, Kfar Fila, Braiqaa, Siddiqine, Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, and Arab Salim (my village).

Israel has carried out a massacre in Haboush, south Lebanon, killing at least 6 people. Emergency teams are currently on-site, as several victims remain trapped under the rubble. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.

I$rael bulldozed and destroyed a school run by nun’s - the Convent of the Sacred Heart Sisters in Yaroun, southern Lebanon today along with a monastery Previously soldiers destroyed the Church of St George and the Imam Ali Mosque in the same village

Leave it to the PFLP to release the hardest May Day posters every single year. “Workers of the World! Unite to Smash Imperialism!”

Rabie Ali, a paramedic, was also killed today in Baracheet. Over 103 medics & rescue workers have been killed since March 2. Not numbers. Not military. First responders.

55 Israeli aerial attack reported today on South Lebanon. 10 drone attacks. 45 airstrike from warplanes. 50% of attacks targeted Nabatieh area, 30% around Bent Jbeil area, and 20% around Tyre. Until now, we have about 20 martyrs and about 50 wounded, in a non final toll, third of them being women and children. This is not on the frontline, but central South were the borders are 25 to 40 km away. Rediculously, his was supposed to be called an American brokered ceasefire.

Israel has targeted the southern Lebanese towns of Maaroub and Kfar Joz.

“The daughter of the martyr Hussein Al-Sati addressed her last words to him during his farewell in the city of Tyre: "You are a hero, dad, you are a hero... in heaven"

🚨Another day, another Lebanese family massacred by I$rael Three members of the Souaidan family were killed in an I$raeli airstrike this morning in Toul, southern Lebanon

“Residents participating in the funeral procession for the Civil Defense heroes in Tyre object to the presence of a representative of President Nawaf Salam and demand his expulsion.”

Uproar broke out during the funeral of Civil Defense members in Tyre following the announcement of a speech by a representative of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The funeral is being held for three paramedics and a civilian killed in a targeted Israeli 'double-tap' strike, which struck while the team was attempting to extract the victim from a bombed building.

@designed_future The fact you’re more outraged over how I write i$rael than you are the killing of a three year old girl ells me all I need to know about you.

@SweeneySteve You know you can write "Israeli", without having to resort to these weird misspellings, right? It's ok, the word isn't that scary, it's not going to bite you.

The father of three year old Mila Zayyat carries her body for the last time in Teir Debba, southern Lebanon after she was killed in an I$raeli airstrike

@matinintoronto She was killed in the airstrike. Hope that helps

@SweeneySteve Where's her Mum? Seems women are excluded. Am I wrong?