Tehran, Iran – In April 2024, a series of alarming videos circulated on social media, depicting explosions and chaotic scenes as crowds fled the streets. However, a closer investigation revealed that the footage was actually from various unrelated events preceding Iran’s assault on Israel. The misleading compilation included clips of a blast in Lebanon, cars affected by forest fires in Chile, and people reacting to a gas explosion in Japan. One of the clips was even tied to an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon back in December 2023.
The video, accompanied by audio of gunfire, screams, and sirens, garnered over 4.8 million views on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok following Iran’s first direct attack on Israel. This attack was a response to Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, following ongoing violence involving Iranian proxies in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
One clip from the compilation showed thick black smoke rising near a highway. Further investigation revealed that the video was originally posted on Instagram weeks prior to Iran’s attack, depicting Israeli strikes in Ghaziyeh, southern Lebanon. An Arabic-speaking man in the video confirmed the location with a southern Lebanese dialect and was identified as the owner of a supermarket in Ghaziyeh.
Another clip in the compilation showed people fleeing from smoke at the end of a street, which was actually footage from an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon reported in December 2023. A license plate seen in the video was confirmed to be registered in Sidon, southern Lebanon. However, the exact timing and location of the footage could not be independently verified.
Additionally, the compilation included footage of charred vehicles on a road, which actually originated from a news report about devastating forest fires in Chile that claimed many lives and destroyed thousands of homes in the Valparaiso region. The similarity between the video in the false posts and the news footage from Chile confirmed the location.
Finally, a clip showing people fleeing a city street littered with debris was traced back to a gas explosion in Japan, not related to any recent events in the Middle East. Visual cues, such as Japanese-language signs and a specific restaurant name, indicated that the video was indeed filmed in Japan.
In conclusion, the misleading compilation of videos circulating on social media following Iran’s attack on Israel in April 2024 turned out to be a collection of unrelated events from various parts of the world. It serves as a reminder to verify sources and information before sharing content, especially during times of heightened tensions and conflicts.