Tehran, Iran – Social media was flooded with a dramatic video compilation on April 13, 2024, showcasing explosions and chaotic scenes of people fleeing the streets, purportedly linked to Iran’s attack on Israel. However, it was soon revealed that the footage actually consisted of older clips taken from different countries and incidents prior to the alleged assault by Tehran.
The misleading video, which garnered over 4.8 million views, included footage of a blast in Lebanon, cars engulfed in flames due to forest fires in Chile, and individuals reacting to a gas explosion in Japan. The compilation was further amplified with audio of gunfire, screams, and sirens, creating a sense of urgency and panic.
After Iran launched its direct assault on Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the video spread rapidly on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The attack was part of escalating tensions in the region involving Iranian proxies supporting Palestinians in Gaza.
However, upon investigation, it was confirmed that the clips in the video were unrelated to Iran’s assault. The first clip, showing thick black smoke near a highway, was traced back to a longer version posted on Instagram weeks before the attack. The video captured a blast in southern Lebanon following Israeli airstrikes in the area.
Another clip depicted people fleeing from a cloud of smoke at the end of a street, which was actually footage from a news report about an Israeli attack in Lebanon in December 2023. The authenticity of the video was corroborated by the presence of a white BMW with a license plate registered in Sidon, Lebanon.
The video also included scenes of charred vehicles on a road, resembling the aftermath of devastating forest fires in Chile that claimed numerous lives and destroyed homes. The footage was repurposed from news reports about the tragic events in Viña del Mar. Similarly, a clip showing a panicked street littered with debris was linked to a gas explosion at a restaurant in Japan.
Each clip in the viral compilation, despite being presented as part of Iran’s attack on Israel, had origins in different countries and incidents, highlighting the dangers of misinformation and the importance of verifying sources before sharing information online. The deceptive nature of the video serves as a cautionary tale about the spread of misleading content on social media platforms.