Video purporting to show Iron Dome is old, labelled as from game
The video is not related to an attack by Iran on Israel
CLAIM
A video shared widely on social media purports to show the Iron Dome air defence system operating during an attack by Iran on Israel on April 14.
BACKGROUND
One person was injured after Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday into Sunday, April 14.
In a statement released on April 13, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, “Iran has launched a direct attack from Iranian soil towards the state of Israel.”
An update by the IDF said it had intercepted the “vast majority” of more than 200 missiles and drones launched by Iran, using its “Arrow” aerial defence system.
Amid the strikes, a video was shared on an X account purporting to show the Iron Dome air defence system intercepting Iranian rockets.
The text accompanying the video reads: “Missiles sent from Iran being intercepted by the Iron Dome in Israel ‘s capital city Tel Aviv . Is this the start of World War 3 ?”
At the time of writing, the post had been viewed more than 650,000 times and shared more than 640 times and had more than 2,400 likes. Multiple other posts on X had also carried the video, which was also posted multiple times on Facebook.
METHOD
Looking closely to the video, it can be seen that there is text at the upper left.
When run through Google Reverse Image Search, the text is recognised as Chinese, and translated as “Game images are for entertainment purposes only”.
Further use of Google Reverse Image Search, using stills from the video, reveal that it has previously been posted to social media — including on March 2 — confirming that it cannot have been captured on April 14.
RATING
Misrepresented. The video predates Iran’s attack on Israel on April 14, and is most likely footage from a computer game.
SOURCES
X (formerly Twitter). (2024). Available at: Missiles sent from Iran being intercepted by the Iron Dome in Israel ‘s capital city Tel Aviv . Is this the start of World War 3 ? [Accessed 14 Apr. 2024].
X (formerly Twitter). (2024). Available at: Iran missiles intercepted by the Iron Dome system… World War 3 [Accessed 14 Apr. 2024].
Facebook.com. (2023). Video. [online] Available at: World War 3: Watch Moment Israel’s Iron Dome Intercepted Missiles Sent From Iran [Accessed 14 Apr. 2024].
X (formerly Twitter). (2024). Available at: Crazy – iron dome in action [Accessed 14 Apr. 2024].