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July 18, 2025 – Syria –
On July 16, 2025, Syria TV anchor Dima Abo Dan experienced a terrifying moment of real danger during a live broadcast. As she reported from the studio near Umayyad Square in central Damascus, a powerful Israeli airstrike struck close behind her, sending a shockwave through the building and momentarily freezing her on screen.
In vivid detail, Dima recounted her experience to The New Arab, recalling how she entered the studio already tense, aware of Israel’s earlier threats. As she began reading the news, she felt the walls tremble and glass vibrate around her, unleashing a wave of panic: “I felt suffocated, scared and confused… and then what I was afraid of actually happened.” She later described the terror as so overwhelming that she felt she couldn’t breathe.
Video footage captured the exact moment: the broadcast glitched, the anchor’s expression froze, and she visibly scrambled for cover, channeling the immediacy and unpredictability of her fear. One broadcast showed her sheltering herself behind a desk and equipment until the initial shock subsided. Studio employees reportedly suffered minor injuries from flying debris, heightening the sense of danger.
This strike hit key government sites, including the Defence Ministry and areas near the presidential palace, as part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at military and regime targets in Damascus. Syrian health authorities confirmed at least three civilians were killed and over 34 injured in the wave of attacks. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, later warned that “the painful blows have begun,” underscoring the explicit political and military purpose behind the strikes.
Dima admitted the experience left her deeply traumatized. Even days later, she struggled to return to normalcy, haunted by the memory of shattered glass and powerful blasts: “I’m still in shock. The feelings are indescribable pure terror.”
This unprecedented moment spotlighted the vulnerability of journalists and the media infrastructure in active conflict zones, where reporting can suddenly become a fight for survival. Watchers say the footage stands emblematic of the blurred line between journalism and frontline bravery in regions gripped by war.
Reference –
https://www.newarab.com/news/syria-tv-anchor-recounts-near-death-israel-hit-damascus
