Fighting has erupted across the Middle East after Israel and the US carried out strikes on Iran following a US military buildup in the region. The US and Israel launched a large joint operation after weeks of tensions and negotiations. Since then, numerous false and AI-generated claims about attacks have circulated on social media in multiple languages. DW Fact Check reviewed several viral posts and compiled a guide to help distinguish real from fake content.
Video of attack on girls’ school in Minab is genuine
Claim: A viral post alleges that footage labeled “missile attack on Minab elementary school” actually shows a 2014 school attack in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Fact check: False. The circulating footage is authentic and shows the February 28 attack on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, during US and Israeli missile strikes. Iranian officials blamed US and Israeli actions; Israel reportedly denied responsibility. Independent verification of responsibility remains unavailable. A UN report and other media outlets reported large numbers of casualties; Iranian state media reported at least 165 deaths, while the UN cited around 150 fatalities—these figures cannot be independently confirmed. Verified videos and media coverage confirm destruction at the Minab site. While a separate terrorist attack occurred at a Peshawar school in 2014, footage from that event looks different; claims conflating the two incidents are incorrect. An AI assistant on X (Grok) incorrectly linked the Minab footage to the 2014 Pakistan attack.
Video allegedly showing a missile hit in Tel Aviv is fake
Claim: A widely shared video purportedly shows a missile striking a building in Tel Aviv.
Fact check: Fake. Although media reported that missiles struck Tel Aviv during the wider strikes, the viral clip does not show a real missile impact and appears AI-generated. Indicators include antennas collapsing before any visible impact and implausible building behavior—elements that defy physical reality. This clip is one of many manipulated or AI-produced videos circulating amid the conflict.
Viral video showing Dubai airport on fire is fake
Claim: A popular post claimed “Dubai Airport out of service. Iranian Missiles ripped it apart,” and included a short video of a burning aircraft and terminal.
Fact check: Fake. The 10-second clip appears AI-generated and contains multiple anomalies: firefighters not aiming hoses at visible flames; an airplane with an extra wing; unnatural smoke; people standing dangerously close to the burning plane without fleeing; and audio that does not match visible actions. Dubai Airport officials said a concourse sustained minor damage in an incident that was quickly contained; operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) were temporarily suspended but limited operations resumed on March 2. The viral video does not reflect the official account and is not genuine footage of a large-scale destruction.
How to spot fakes
1. Look closely at the video: Watch several times with and without sound. Check whether objects blend unrealistically, audio mismatches visuals, or movements defy gravity or logic (for example, structural collapse occurring before any impact).
2. Verify timing and origin: Take a screenshot and use reverse image search (e.g., Google Lens) to see if the image or clip has appeared before in another context. Older footage is often recycled and misattributed to current events.
3. Cross-check trusted sources: See if multiple reputable news organizations report the same event and whether there are verified visuals from different angles or independent confirmations.
As social media fills with shocking clips, careful scrutiny—examining visuals and audio, checking provenance, and relying on trustworthy outlets—helps separate authentic reporting from AI-generated or recycled misinformation.
Emad Hassan, Monir Ghaedi and Torsten Neuendorff contributed to this report.
Edited by Rayna Breuer and Rachel Baig.
