Fact Check: Israel strikes Iran resulting in massive explosion? No, video is AI-generated
A video showing a huge explosion is going viral on social media with the claim that it shows recent Israeli strikes on Iran.
By K Sherly Sharon
Claim:The video shows a massive explosion in Iran caused by an airstrike by Israel.
Fact:The claim is false. The video is AI-generated.
Hyderabad: As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues, a video is circulating online with the claim that it shows Israel striking Iran.
In the video, a missile is seen exploding amid high-rise buildings, unleashing a powerful shockwave. A plume of smoke rises as a cloud of flames engulfs the surrounding area.
The text on the video reads, āAl Jazeera has verified the authenticity of this video. It shows the recent Israeli strike in Iran. The explosion was extremely powerful. However, there is no official confirmation yet regarding any casualties caused by the blast.ā
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video is AI-generated.
Using reverse image searches, we did not find any news reports sharing the viral visuals and stating that they show Israelās attack on Iran.
We found a 4-second clip from the viral video that was uploaded to X on June 13. The video was shared with a similar claim to the viral video.
We also found that an extended version of the viral video was shared on YouTube. The video was uploaded on October 31, 2024, with the title, āEnd of the world according to AIā.
The description stated that the video is an experiment. It stated, āAn AI engine was asked what the end of the world would be like, and this is the result. Beyond the ethical implications, what do you think about this experiment?ā
The description of the video points towards the possibility that the viral video is AI-generated.
Upon analysing the video, we found that the plumes of smoke and the explosion look artificial, and the lighting in the video also looks very unnatural. These are common indications of the presence of AI-generated content in the video.
Deepfake o meter, an AI detection tool, analysed the video. One of the main determinants gave a result that the video is 100 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.
Therefore, NewsMeter concludes that the viral video is AI-generated.
