CNN reporter 'takes cover' after missile lands near them
A broadcasting team were forced to abandon a live television report in Israel due to an Iranian missile exploding close to their location. The CNN crew were communicating from a rooftop in Tel Aviv at the time of the incident.
On Tuesday (October 1), CNN correspondent Jim Sciutto was fronting the news channel’s coverage of Iran’s large-scale attack above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Air raid sirens could be heard in the background of the footage while Jim Sciutto tried to describe the horrific scenes lighting up the night sky.
“A deadly fireworks display over Tel Aviv,” he told the studio. After hearing a series of bangs close to his location, Jim announced he and his crew would be abandoning their broadcast.
“Oh god, okay guys we’ve got to get off the roof, these are coming down right next to us here. They’re coming down, we’ve got to go inside.”
Despite Jim exiting the broadcast, a camera operator continued to film the missile attack. “We are listening and we are watching,” said another correspondent, filling in for the 54-year-old following his scramble to safety.
After realising CNN’s chief national security correspondent wasn’t returning to the screen, the crew cut to another news team up in Northern Israel.
There, they spoke to former White House Correspondent Jeremy Diamond, who has served as the network’s Jerusalem-based international correspondent since June 2024.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it launched the barrage of missiles as Israel in response to the assassinations of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoushan and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year, as per Iran’s Fars news agency.
“In response to the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and Nilforoushan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement.
Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 74, vowed to retaliate against Iran.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it,” he claimed after the Israeli military confirmed Tehran had fired around 180 missiles.
“Whoever attacks us, we will attack them.”
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After abandoning his live report, Jim has since confirmed his safety by posting a series of posts to X, formerly known as Twitter.
His latest message reads: “Breaking: The Israeli military announced the deaths of seven additional Israeli soldiers who were killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, bringing the total toll since the offensive began to eight.”
Prior to becoming CNN’s chief national security correspondent in 2013, the father-of-three served as chief of staff to the US Ambassador Gary Locke at the US Embassy in Beijing.
He has also held positions as ABC News’ foreign correspondent in London as well as working as the Hong Kong correspondent for Asia Business Network.
