False
Fact-Checked
- 09.03.2026
Viral video does not show blackout in Tel Aviv after Iran strikes; it’s from 2023 Israel assault on Gaza
CLAIM
Viral clip of complete blackout in Tel Aviv after Iranian strikes
RATING JUSTIFICATION
The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false.
To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search.
Multiple accounts on social media platform X on March 9, 2026, shared a clip claiming that it showed a blackout in Tel Aviv after Iranian strikes. However, the clip is of the Gaza Strip and dates back to October 2023.
Israel and the United States launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East. President Donald Trump confirmed that the US had begun major combat operations, stating that the objective was to eliminate imminent threats from Iran and protect the American people.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — who had led the Islamic Republic for more than three decades — was killed in a strike in the early hours of Feb 28. The attack was carried out by the US and Israel, both of which had previously called for regime change in Tehran.
Iran condemned the strikes as unprovoked and illegal. In response, it launched missile attacks targeting Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US military bases, and vowed retaliation for Khamenei’s assassination.
HOW IT STARTED
On March 9, PTI leader Samad Yaqoob shared a dark and low-quality video on X with the caption: “A massive blackout hit Tel Aviv after Iranian missile strikes allegedly targeted critical energy infrastructure, including power plants and refineries.”
The post garnered more than 41,000 views
The same clip and claim were also shared by another X user, gathering two million views.
The video, with similar claims, was shared by other social media users as well, as seen here, here, here and here; collectively gaining more than 773,000 views.
METHODOLOGY
A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the US-Israel war with Iran.
A reverse image search yielded a feature story by British newspaper Metro, dated October 10, 2023, titled: “History of the Israeli-Palestine conflict as violence continues and thousands left homeless following Hamas attacks.”
The article featured the viral video with the caption: “Israel missile strike lights up Gaza skyline as bombing intensifies into the night”.
The search also led the team to a YouTube video from Oct 10, 2023, published by Filipino news outlet ANC 24/7. “Look: Explosions rock Gaza as Israel launches night airstrikes in war vs. Hamas | ANC,” reads the title.
The description of the video said: “On the scene: Israel’s military continued its extensive strikes in Gaza on Monday (October 9) to the early hours of Tuesday (October 10) following Hamas’ attacks over the weekend. After hours of intense bombardment by Israeli jets, Hamas said it would execute an Israeli captive for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning.”
FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE
The claim that a viral video shows a complete blackout in Tel Aviv after Iranian strikes is false.
The video shows Israeli bombing of Gaza from October 2023.
EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES
Oct 10, 2023, Metro report:
Oct 10, 2023, ANC 24/7 YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQoPdfyuIO0
MULTIPLE CLAIMS
At the same time, iVerify Pakistan observed multiple other claims regarding the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Here are more claims that were debunked by the platform.
Viral video of Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv – FALSE
An X account shared a video on March 7 with the following caption: “Images are circulating showing missile impacts near Tel Aviv. They show significant debris and several fires in the distance. Some buildings in the area are said to have sustained heavy damage, according to initial reports.”
The post gained 161,500 views.
A pro-Iranian account on X also shared the same video on March 8 with the following caption: “Verified. The video is indeed from Tel Aviv. The night is no longer night. The sky has turned into a mouth of fire, and the rockets are multiplying as if they were creatures emerging from the depths of the earth. Something closer to the end of a horror movie than a news bulletin. The strange thing? That some screens are still acting as if nothing has happened. Just tell me honestly: Is this normal, or is there a bigger story being hidden from us?”
The post gained 794,200 views.
The same video was also shared by several other pro-Iranian accounts across social media platforms, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
iVerify Pakistan had previously conducted a fact-check on the same video on May 9, 2025, when it was shared amid the Pakistan-India conflict at the time.
A reverse image search conducted to investigate the clip yielded a YouTube video, dated February 2, 2025, and titled, “More footage of the Philadelphia plane crash.” The video contained the same visuals as the viral clip but did not include the same audio.
The audio of the viral clip was analysed using the forensic tool Fake-O-Meter, which suggested a deepfake probability of 13.9 per cent.
Moreover, a keyword search for “Philadelphia plane crash” around the corresponding date yielded a news report from BBC dated February 2, 2025, titled, “Mother and child among seven killed in Philadelphia medical jet crash.”
According to the report, a medical transport plane crashed into several buildings in the US city of Philadelphia shortly after takeoff on January 31, 2025, killing all six people on board and at least one person on the ground.
The aircraft was reportedly headed to Tijuana, Mexico, on a medical transport flight carrying a child patient and her mother, along with two pilots, a doctor and a paramedic.
Other international media outlets, such as Reuters and NBC News, also reported on the incident in early February 2025, confirming that the video is old and unrelated to any Iranian strike on Israel’s capital, Tel Aviv.
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows Iranian missiles striking Tel Aviv amid the current conflict is false. The video is from February 2025 and shows a plane crash in Philadelphia.
Viral image of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport bombed by Iran – FALSE
On March 8, a pro-Iranian user shared an image on X allegedly showing several aircraft destroyed or severely damaged at an airport, with the following caption: “Israel’s main international airport, Ben Gurion Airport, was bombed today by Iran.”
The post gained over 202,000 views.
The same image was shared by another pro-Iranian account with a similar caption, gaining over 952,000 views.
The claim was further shared by multiple users on X, as can be seen here, here, here, here and here; collectively gaining over 404,000 views.
The content and claim were also shared on TikTok and Facebook.
A visual analysis of the image revealed several inconsistencies that suggest it may be AI-generated. The aircraft near the terminal appear distorted and have irregular structures. The debris on the ground also looks uniformly scattered and repetitive, which is often seen in AI-generated images.
In addition, the scale and spacing between the planes, terminal gates, and debris appear inconsistent. Some aircraft look unusually small or placed too close to each other compared to the normal spacing at airport gates.
The image was further analysed using AI-detection tools with Hive Moderation, which flagged the image as 97pc likely to be AI-generated.
A keyword search conducted to determine whether any credible international or Israeli media outlets had used the image while reporting any attack on Ben Gurion Airport yielded no results.
Therefore, the claim that a viral image shows Ben Gurion Airport after being bombed by Iran is false. The image is AI-generated.
Viral video of Iranian missile strikes on Israeli coast – FALSE
On March 8, a pro-Iranian user, based on his profile picture, shared a video on X allegedly showing Iranian missile strikes on the Israeli coast.
The post was captioned: “God is great, Iran has launched an attack on a nuclear site towards Israel’s sea.”
The post gained 4.2m views
Another pro-Iranian user shared the same video in a similar context on X with the following caption: “Tel Aviv today.”
The post gained 1.1m views.
The video was shared by another pro-Iranian user with the following caption: “Breaking: Reports circulating on social media claim that Iran has launched a major strike toward the sea area near Israel. However, there is no confirmed evidence of a nuclear attack, and these claims remain unverified currently.”
The post garnered 8.1m views.
The video in a similar context was shared by several other pro-Iranian users on X and TikTok, as can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
Inspecting the video showed several discrepancies, such as a man being seen standing on a building several storeys high, yet the waves appear to reach him; an implausible scenario outside of a tsunami.
A reverse image search yielded the same video shared on March 7, 2026, by a TikTok user without any caption.
The user, based on his past posts, regularly shares similar AI-generated content, often showing the same man recording catastrophic events from a selfie camera.
Furthermore, the video he shared on TikTok was labelled as AI-generated by the social media platform.
Similarly, the same video shared on X by one of the users mentioned above was also labelled as AI-generated by the social media platform.
An AI forensic analysis of the video was conducted with Hive Moderation, which flagged it as 83.1% AI-generated.
A keyword search was conducted to corroborate whether any credible mainstream international, Iranian or US news outlets had shared the video, while reporting any attack on the Israeli coastline yielded no results.
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows Iranian missile strikes on the Israeli coast is false. The video is AI-generated.
Viral video of destruction in Tel Aviv after Iran’s missile strikes — MISLEADING
On March 8, a social media user on X shared a video allegedly showing rubble of heavily damaged buildings in Tel Aviv, Israel, with the following caption: “Good morning Tel Aviv.”
The post gained more than 394,800 views.
The same video was also shared by Iranian state media outlets, Tehran Times and Press TV, with similar captions, garnering 73,000 views.
A pro-PTI account also shared the same clip with a similar caption, accumulating 146,400 views.
The same video was also shared on TikTok, Facebook and YouTube; collectively gaining more than 414,906 views.
It was also circulated by several other users on X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here; gaining 143,900 views.
A reverse image search yielded a Time news report dated June 16, 2025, titled: “Trump delivers almighty threat to Iran, says it’s ‘possible’ US could get involved in Israel-Iran conflict”.
The news report featured the same residential buildings, but from a slightly different angle, as seen in the viral video.
According to the news report, Israel and Iran engaged in a deadly missile exchange on June 15, 2025, with Israel striking Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran, prompting Iranian missiles to rain down on Israel overnight.
The caption of the image said: “Debris is scattered amid heavily damaged buildings following an overnight Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, Israel, on June 15, 2025. Gil Cohen-Magen — Getty Images”.
American media outlet News Nation also shared the same image of damaged buildings in Tel Aviv dated June 15, 2025, with the headline, “Israel, Iran exchange strikes for 3rd day as nuclear talks halted”.
The caption of the photo, by international wire news agency AFP, said: “Israeli emergency responders stand amid the rubble of heavily damaged buildings, following an overnight Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam on June 15, 2025. Iran struck Israel early on June 15, with barrages of missiles after a massive onslaught targeted the Islamic republic’s nuclear, military and oil facilities, and killed several top generals.”
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows destruction in Tel Aviv after Iran’s missile strikes amid the current conflict between the two countries is misleading. The footage is from June 2025, when Iran attacked Israel.
Viral video of US oil tanker destroyed by Iranian strikes – FALSE
On Feb 28, a Facebook account shared a video showing an oil tanker aflame with the following caption: “Iran’s attack on US oil tanker.”
The post gained 4,700 views.
The same video with a similar claim was shared by a social media outlet on X with the following caption: “Breaking: Iran strikes US-linked oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz”
The post gained 371,000 views.
A pro-Iranian user on X also shared the same video in a similar context with the following caption: “Iran has seized superiority on the field. The US and Israel are in shock. The tanker Iran struck! The oil tanker named ‘Adalin’, said to belong to America, is burning fiercely in the Strait of Hormuz.
The post garnered 182,000 views.
The video with a similar claim was shared by several other users on X, as can be seen here, here, here and here; on Facebook, as seen here, here and here; and on Instagram, as seen here and here.
A reverse image search yielded an X post dated June 17, 2025.
According to the caption, the video shows “dark fleet” tanker MV Adalynn on fire after being struck by another tanker, MV Front Eagle, just south of the Strait of Hormuz.
A keyword search conducted yielded news reports covered by multiple mainstream media outlets, such as Deutsche Welle and Reuters, on the same incident.
As per the news reports, two oil tankers collided on June 17, 2025, in the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping gateway in the Gulf of Oman. British maritime security firm Ambrey said the incident wasn’t security-related
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows a US oil tanker destroyed by Iranian strikes is false. The video is old and unrelated to the current conflict in the Middle East.
Viral video of Israelis running away from their homes – FALSE
On March 8, a user on X shared a video allegedly showing people running into mountains with the caption, “They are running away from their homes.”
The post gained over 372,000 views.
The same claim was also shared by a PTI supporter on X, gaining more than 182,000 views.
A pro-Iranian account also shared the video with a similar claim, gaining over 346,000 views.
Several other X users, including pro-Iranian and pro-Palestinian, circulated the same video in a similar context, as can be seen here, here, here and here; collectively gaining 250,000 views.
A reverse image search yielded an Instagram post dated June 2, 2025. The bio of the account reads: “Let’s promote your product, culture and traditions.”
The account shared the same video with the following caption: “Every year, the highlands of Dolpa, including Rupa Patan, witness a massive influx of people eager to harvest yarsagumba, a rare and highly valued medicinal fungus. Known as the ‘Himalayan Gold,’ yarsagumba thrives at elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 meters and is prized for its purported health benefits.”
The caption further states: “Villagers from Dolpa and neighbouring districts like Rukum, Jajarkot, and Jumla embark on arduous journeys to these alpine meadows, setting up temporary camps and enduring harsh conditions for weeks. The income from yarsagumba collection is vital, often sustaining families for an entire year. However, the pursuit is fraught with challenges, including altitude sickness and unpredictable weather, underscoring the risks these communities face in their quest for economic survival.”
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows Israelis running away from their homes amid the conflict with Iran is false. The video is old and shows people in Nepal travelling to highland areas for a harvest.
Viral video of fire in Tel Aviv amid Iran conflict – FALSE
On March 9, a pro-PPP user shared a video on X allegedly showing fire and destruction in Tel Aviv with the following caption: “Tel Aviv right now”.
The post gained 629,200 views.
Another person shared the same clip on Instagram with the following caption: “Israel, Tel Aviv is burning. Iran continues its attacks. Iran is penetrating Israel”.
The post accumulated 78,200 views.
The chairman of Pakistan Nazriati Party (PNP), Shaheer Haider, also posted the same clip with a similar caption, gaining 21,000 views.
The same video was also widely circulated by multiple accounts on X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
A reverse image search yielded a news report by Turkish news outlet MEPA News dated January 18, 2026, with the following headline, “Iranian official: Death toll in street clashes exceeds 5,000”.
The news report featured the same burning car visible in the viral video.
As per the news report, protests in Iran began on December 28, 2025, in Tehran due to the economic crisis.
Voice of America also shared the same image dated Jan 20, 2026, with the headline, “US sanctions architects of Iran’s brutal crackdown”.
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows fire in Tel Aviv amid the current conflict between the two countries is false. The footage is from the December 2025 protests in Tehran, Iran.
Viral video of Pakistan Army deploying thousands of soldiers at Iran border — FALSE
On March 6, an Indian propagandist account, based on its past posts, shared a video on X, allegedly showing the Pakistan Army deploying thousands of soldiers at the border with Iran.
The caption read: “Breaking: While Kurds are attacking Iran from West, Pakistan Army is deploying additional 30,000 soldiers along the border with Iran. Large numbers of arms and ammunition are being moved by Pakistan Army. Is Pakistan Army going to do something from East? (Representative Video)”
The post gained 279,500 views.
Another user shared the same video with a similar caption, gaining 8,500 views.
The same video with a similar caption was also shared on Facebook.
A pro-Iranian user posted the same video with the following caption: “Urgent, After the Kurds and Azerbaijan, Pakistan mobilises. While the Kurds are launching an attack on Iran from the west, the Pakistani army is deploying an additional 30,000 soldiers along the border with Iran. The Pakistani army is also transporting large quantities of weapons and ammunition. Will the Pakistani army take a step from the east? (Illustrative video)”
The post gained 6,500 views.
The same video with similar captions was also shared by several other accounts on X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
iVerify Pakistan has previously investigated this video. The video is old, from Lahore, dating back as far as April 2025, in the wake of Pakistan-India tensions after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows the Pakistan Army deploying thousands of soldiers at the Iran border is false.
Viral video shows Iranian strike on nuclear facility in Israel — FALSE
On March 7, a pro-Iranian user, who describes herself as a researcher in the bio, shared a clip on X, claiming it showed a huge fire at a nuclear facility in Israel following an Iranian airstrike.
“Israeli Dimona Reactor,” reads the caption of the post, which gained 378,000 views.
The clip was also shared by another account on X with the following caption: “Jordanian believes the Iranian missiles have successfully struck Israel’s Dimona Nuclear Reactor. It will be huge if not AI video.”
The post racked up 2.8m views.
The video was shared by several other pro-Iranian and other users on X in a similar context, as can be seen here, here, here, here and here.
A visual analysis of the video revealed several inconsistencies that suggest it may be AI-generated, such as the smoke plumes in the clip appearing unusually uniform, with soft folds that resemble melted clay instead of real-life chaotic and turbulent smoke clouds. Then, the background details are vague and smoothed, with minimal texture on buildings and structures, which is a common feature in AI-generated imagery where fine environmental detail is often blurred.
Analysing the video through AI-detection tools showed that Truth Scan gave it a score of 59pc generated via AI, while Hive Moderation flagged it as 98pc AI generated.
A reverse image search conducted to determine whether any credible international or Israeli media outlets had reported any such attack on a nuclear facility yielded no reports.
Instead, it yielded a TikTok post dated September 12, 2025, wherein the viral clip was shared with the following caption: “The moment the Israeli Dimona reactor was targeted. Yemen is now bombing the Dimona reactor. Israeli missiles and Iron Dome fail to respond.”
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The video had the following tags: “promotional content” and “creator labelled as AI-generated”.
Therefore, the claim that a viral video shows an Iranian strike on a nuclear facility in Israel is false. The clip is AI-generated.