Fact-Checking Viral Claims Following Israel’s Attack on Iran
In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched a significant strike on various targets in Iran, primarily military and nuclear facilities, as well as high-ranking officers and scientists. Following these strikes, numerous images purporting to show Israel’s attack or Iran’s counterattack have been shared on social media. Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check team took a closer look.
According to Deutsche Welle’s investigation, a viral video on TikTok with over 660,000 views at the time of publication claims to show the Iranian sites hit and destroyed by Israeli attacks on June 13. However, Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check team found that all scenes in the video are AI-generated. If you look closely, you can spot several odd things. For example, in the first frame of the scene with the burned-out cars (00:08), the teddy bear has a distorted face and appears unnaturally clean compared to its surroundings. These inconsistencies strongly suggest the use of AI in the video’s creation.
The account behind the video, Malka.415, reveals the owner is heavily involved in creating AI-generated videos based on current news events for their channel. As Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check team notes, "These inconsistencies strongly suggest the use of AI in the video’s creation."
Several widely shared posts on X, including one with over 3.6 million views, claim to show incoming Israeli missiles targeting Iran or Iran’s response to Israel. However, Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check found that the video does not depict the current escalation between Israel and Iran. A reverse image search of a still frame confirms that the footage was first shared eight months ago. It most likely shows an Iranian missile attack on Israel in October 2023, which was in retaliation to a prior Israeli strike.
This case highlights how old footage is repeatedly recycled to garner attention and spread misinformation. The same video, for example, was previously posted — and debunked — in the context of the recent Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan. As Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check team warns, "This case highlights how old footage is repeatedly recycled to garner attention and spread misinformation."
An image on X, viewed 3.6 million times at the time of writing, allegedly shows that "Iran has launched missiles at Israel," as stated in the caption. However, Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check found that the photo is from a military exercise in Iran several years ago. The image first appeared online in 2021. The photograph appears to have been taken in southern Iran during the 17th Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint Great Prophet 17 exercise in December 2021, which included the launch of rockets and missiles as part of a five-day military drill.
Given the similar images from this exercise circulating online, taken by different photographers at slightly different times, it is clear the photo is real but unrelated to the current conflict. As Deutsche Welle’s investigation concludes, "The image is real but unrelated to the current conflict."
The spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media has become a significant concern, particularly in times of conflict. It is essential to verify information through reputable sources and fact-checking teams like Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check to ensure accuracy and prevent the spread of false information.
In conclusion, Deutsche Welle’s Fact Check team’s investigation reveals that many viral claims following Israel’s attack on Iran are false or misleading. It is crucial to be cautious when sharing information on social media and to rely on credible sources to stay informed.
Edited by: Ines Eisele, Deutsche Welle.
