CLAIM

Viral video of US military soldiers evacuating airbases in the Middle East amid conflict with Iran

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 and a keyword search to identify the original source of the footage.

Multiple Iranian and pro-Palestinian users on social media platform X shared a video on March 9, 2026, claiming that it showed US soldiers evacuating American airbases in the Middle East amid the ongoing war with Iran. However, the clip shows a military training exercise and is unrelated to the ongoing conflict.

Israel and the US launched joint military strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other top officials. Tehran responded by launching strikes on US bases and other facilities in seven Gulf states and Israel.

As the war entered its 10th day, there has been no letup in attacks by Israel, Iran or the US, with explosions reported in Qom and Tehran, hours after Israeli attacks on oil facilities caused toxic smoke across the Iranian capital. On the other hand, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader.

HOW IT STARTED

On March 9, a PPP supporter, based on his bio and past posts, shared a video on X of soldiers marching with the following caption: “Breaking: The United States has announced the withdrawal from military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and some Gulf countries. The footage clearly shows that Iran has won this war.”

The post gained 776,000 views.

A pro-Iranian user also shared the same video with the same caption, gaining 700,000 views.

Another pro-Iranian account shared the video in a similar context with the caption, “Breaking: The United States has announced the withdrawal from military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and several Gulf countries. Footage circulating appears to show signs suggesting that Iran may have already gained the upper hand in the war.”

The post garnered two million views and was liked by 22,000 users.

The clip was shared with the same caption by another Iranian user on X, with the post racking up 1.1m views.

The video was shared by several other users on Instagram and X, as can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here; collectively accumulating more than 610,000 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 Facebook and Instagram posts shared by a user on February 14, 2026, before the US-Israel war with Iran commenced. The video shows the same visuals with the following caption: “No retreat. No excuses. Only victory.”

The video was also found to be shared on February 22, 2026, with the following caption: “0530 – Conduct headcount and room inspections. Following accountability, students will proceed to chow. Once the meal is complete and all personnel are present, they will form up and march to the schoolhouse to begin the training day. Standards of discipline, bearing, and marching proficiency will be enforced and refined throughout the movement.”

The post was accompanied by the hashtag “military training”, indicating that it showed US military personnel during a training exercise.

Moreover, a keyword search to check whether any credible mainstream American or international media outlets had reported the withdrawal of US soldiers from the Middle East yielded no results.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral video shows US military soldiers evacuating airbases in the Middle East during the current conflict with Iran is false.

The video is old and unrelated to Iran’s conflict with the US and Israel.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES

February 14, 2026, Facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=25816984387930277

February 14, 2026, Instagram video:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUuOM7SjRsK/

February 22, 2026, Instagram video:
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVDaAA1DMRO/