AP photographer Bilal Hussein captures moment bomb launched from an Israeli jet hit a building in Beirut

By Bilal Hussein

Bilal Hussein happened to be at a nearby Hezbollah press conference when the Israeli military posted a warning that it would strike two buildings on Beirut’s southern outskirts. He was determined to try and capture the moment the bomb fell safely and planned his next moves carefully. And then he did it.

“I heard the sound of the missile whistling, headed toward the building and then I started filming,” Hussein said hours after Israeli forces launched the attack.

Hussein, who has spent years covering conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon since joining the AP in 2004, says he has become accustomed to the sounds of explosions. The night before the building was destroyed, he filmed more than a dozen Israeli strikes nearby.

“I have the ability to control my reactions in critical moments and maintain stability as much as possible,” he said.

The powerful sequence of photos highlighted the slow-motion horror of the bomb’s descent. Although there were other photographers on the scene, none captured the sequence that Hussein did.

The judges noted that the remarkable images were the story — the building had been evacuated and there were no casualties reported.

Hussein told his own story both in print and in an explainer video.

For displaying notable courage and capturing the photo that was seen around the world, Bilal Hussein earns this week’s Best of the AP — First Winner.

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