Anderson Cooper and his CNN team had a heart-stopping moment when they were evacuated to a missile shelter during a live on-air broadcast from Tel Aviv, Israel. The incident unfolded on Monday, June 23, when warnings of a potential missile strike interrupted their segment. Chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward alerted viewers to the situation, stating there was an alert while filming around 3 a.m. local time. Anderson Cooper, along with his team, received notifications on their phones and a verbal alert, prompting them to seek safety in a bomb shelter within a 10-minute window.
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Despite attempts to continue broadcasting while moving to the shelter, the cameras lost signal at some point, and the feed transitioned to White House correspondent Kristen Holmes. The CNN team, comprising Cooper, Ward, and international correspondent Jeremy Diamond, were safely evacuated to a shelter and briefly taken offline. However, they were able to resume their morning broadcast after being given the all-clear. Notably, later in the day, the team adapted to breaking news by reporting on Iran’s retaliatory actions following the United States’ bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites on June 21.
The tense situation escalated further as Iran claimed responsibility for a forceful missile strike on the US’ Al-Udeid military base in Qatar just after 9 p.m. local time on the same day. The base, located near Doha, the capital city of Qatar, houses approximately 10,000 troops and serves as the largest US military base in the Middle East. The apparent attack led to explosions near the base, prompting the US Embassy to issue a “shelter in place” warning to all citizens in the vicinity.
In response to the strike, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Dr. Majed Al Ansari strongly condemned the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Emphasizing the violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter, Al Ansari stated that Qatar’s air defenses successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles. He stressed Qatar’s right to respond appropriately to the aggression in accordance with international law, urging an immediate halt to military actions and a return to dialogue and negotiation to ensure regional security and stability.
The incident highlights the constant risks faced by journalists, especially those reporting from conflict zones, as they aim to bring crucial news to the public. Anderson Cooper and his team’s swift response to the evacuation demonstrates the dedication and professionalism required in such challenging circumstances. As tensions remain high in the region, the situation serves as a reminder of the volatile geopolitical landscape and the importance of accurate and timely reporting in keeping audiences informed.
