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| - Old Photo Depicts Israeli Airstrike in Gaza, Not Lebanon
In the wake of the recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, a photo has circulated widely among media outlets and social media users, claiming to show a fireball resulting from one of the attacks on the city. One particular image depicts a large explosion and is accompanied by claims that it occurred in Lebanon. This photo has been shared extensively and has elicited a range of mixed comments from users, reflecting varied opinions and emotional reactions to the situation. However, our investigation found out the claim is misleading.
Social Media Claim
An X user shared an image on October 21, 2024, claiming it showed an explosion from a recent Israeli airstrike on Lebanon, stating, “Israel is massively bombing Beirut”. This image has resurfaced multiple times on social media, eliciting a variety of reactions from users, including sympathy, outrage, and confusion.
The following photo is taken by the aforementioned user, who displays two images of explosions and links them to the recent bombings in Lebanon.
The same photo, along with the identical claim, has also been observed and shared by another Facebook user. This repetition highlights the viral nature of the image and its ability to spread across different platforms.
Similarly, the photo in question was recently published on a news website called “The Palestine Chronicle,” which linked it to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
For more information and specifics about this post, please see the details below.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo monitors and verifies these photos through the Google Reverse Image Search process, which leads us to find the truth as follows:
An identical photo has been found and published on the Getty Images website. This clarifies that the image being circulated as evidence of recent bombings in Lebanon shows a fireball erupting from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023.
In response to the unprecedented assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel, Israel launched extensive airstrikes on Gaza, raising the death toll there to 687 as counted on that day. The photo was taken by MAHMUD HAMS from AFP via Getty Images.
The following screenshot from the website highlights its headline, clarifying that the issue pertains to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, not Lebanon.
The above photo has been publicly available on The Week news website since October 2023, where it is described as depicting the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City. This information indicates that the image does not relate to any incident or explosion in Lebanon.
What’s the current situation in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon?
The Israeli military has confirmed that its troops have entered Lebanon for a “limited, localized, and targeted” operation against Hezbollah, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Lebanese officials report that the death toll has exceeded 1,000 due to recent airstrikes, raising humanitarian concerns and prompting international calls for restraint.
In retaliation, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets into northern Israel, aiming to demonstrate its military strength and support for its allies. These ongoing exchanges of fire have heightened tensions, increasing fears of further escalation and a broader conflict.
As the situation evolves, it continues to draw attention from the international community, with many advocating for a ceasefire and renewed dialogue to address the underlying issues fueling the conflict.
BBC News Report | Archived Link
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo has determined that the claim in the viral post is misleading. The photo, which has been circulated as evidence of recent bombings in Lebanon, actually depicts a fireball erupting from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 9, 2023.
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