VERA Files
A video compilation showing aircraft performing maneuvers is being shared on Facebook and passed off as Iran’s attack on Israel this month. The clips were actually taken during a 2023 airshow in the United States.
Uploaded by a FB user on April 15, the 50-second video contained three clips of different aircraft taking off and performing maneuvers. The video bore the text:
“Iran Aircraft Attacking on Israel”
This is not true. The video features footage of U.S. Armed Forces aircraft participating in the 2023 Cleveland National Airshow.
The clips were lifted from a longer compilation video uploaded by the YouTube channel AirshowStuffVideos on Sept. 7, 2023. Featured are the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor, the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18F Super Hornet and U.S. Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier.
The video’s original description read:
“Highlights from the 2023 Cleveland National Air Show at Burke Lakefront Airport in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The 2023 show featured the USAF Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor, US Navy F-18 Super Hornet and possibly the final public performance of the US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier.”
YouTube channel bryant_weather first uploaded the recording of the F-22 Raptor on Sept. 4, 2023.
The video being incorrectly linked to the April 14 Iran attack was first uploaded on TikTok after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. It resurfaced on FB a day after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones against Israel as a response to the April 1 air strike on its Syria consulate.
Several news organizations reported that Israel retaliated, but Iran’s air defenses intercepted and brought down three small drones over Isfahan.
Iran has a regional alliance with Hamas, Syria and the Shi’ite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
VERA Files Fact Check just last week debunked a clip of wildfires passed off as areas in Israel attacked by Iran. (Read Part of circulating clip shows Chile wildfires, NOT Iran’s attack on Israel)
The video uploaded by the FB user Camalia Vlogs (created on March 13, 2022) garnered 3,500 reactions, 377 comments, 839 shares and 210,000 views. The previous TikTok video amassed 31,300 reactions, 1,025 comments, 1,958 shares and 1,600,000 views.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
