AI-generated video of attack on Sanaa airport based on genuine photo

The fact the AI-generated video was frequently juxtaposed with the genuine photo in social media posts along with credits to Reuters elevated its appearance as being authentic

May 30, 2025

Claim

A short clip purports to show the scene at Sanaa International Airport after an Israeli strike on Wednesday, May 27.

Background

On Thursday, May 28, a video surfaced purporting to show an up-close look at the scene of an Israeli strike on Sanaa International Airport in Yemen earlier in the week. The footage purported to show the last operational Yemenia Airlines plane destroyed by the strike.

Israel confirmed the strike and Al Masirah TV, which is affiliated with Yemen's Houthi rebels, said four airstrikes hit the runway and a Yemenia Airlines aircraft on Wednesday.

Among others, the clip was shared on X by Ariel Oseran, who works as Middle East correspondent for Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS English Channel and has 17,000 followers.

Some of the posts showing this video were shared thousands of times and a keyword search for "Sanaa Airport" on X yielded results with this footage featuring prominently.

Method

When slowing down the 8-second clip a number of clues are consistent with the glitchy nature of AI-generated content. At 2 seconds, a fireman appears apparently out of nowhere to the right of the firetruck and at 3 seconds, a fireman seen left of the ambulance suddenly disappears. A slowed-down version of the footage also revealed a figure moving in the smoke in oddly fluid motions at 5 seconds, as the camera pans to the right past the ambulance.

This was already identified by other OSINT accounts such as Israeli misinformation researcher Tal Hagin.

Khaled al-Shaief, the General Director of Sanaa International Airport, posted the photo on X that appears to have been the source material for the video.

In posts sharing the AI-generated clip alongside this photo and other genuine material from the scene, one courtesies the material to Reuters and al-Shaief. However, this video was not published on al-Shaief's social media accounts. He did share another video a short time after the photo showing the plane engulfed in smoke and flames from much further away.

One version of the clip being circulated featured the logo of AlAraby TV, a Qatari TV network. However, we did not find the footage on any of their social media accounts, which may be that it was taken down or was never published there.

The fact the AI-generated video was frequently juxtaposed with the genuine photo in social media posts along with credits to Reuters, elevated its appearance as being authentic.

Rating

The footage is AI-generated and appears to be based on an authentic photo shared by the General Director of Sanaa International Airport Khaled al-Shaief on X.

Sources

Al Jazeera (2025). Available at: Israel attacks Yemen’s Sanaa airport; Houthis say won’t deter Gaza support [online]. [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Al-Shaief, K. (2025). Available at: @KAlshaief [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

FlightMode (2025). Available at: Israeli airstrikes on May 28, 2025, destroyed the last operational civilian... [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Hagan, T. (2025). Available at: This video isn’t real, but it appears to be based on a genuine image from Sana’a Airport in Yemen. [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Khalissee (2025). Available at: BREAKING: Israeli bombed Sanaa International Airport in Yemen this morning [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Zaman (2025). Available at: Israeli bombed Sanaa International Airport in Yemen this morning [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Oseran, A. (2025). Available at: Israeli airstrikes targeted the runway at the Sana’a International Airport [online] X [Accessed 30 May 2025].

Al Jazeera (2025). Available at: Israel attacks Yemen’s Sanaa airport; Houthis say won’t deter Gaza support [online]. [Accessed 30 May 2025].