FACT CHECK: AI-generated video of missile attack falsely linked to Iran-Israel conflict

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The video, posted on June 20, is one of the many AI-generated content spreading online amid the Iran-Israel conflict that started on June 13

Claim: An aerial video shows missiles launched from Iran in an attack on Israel. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The 10-second video has already received 13 million views, 62,200 reactions, 2,800 shares, and 2,100 comments as of writing. It was posted by a Facebook account that currently has 41,000 followers. 

The video shows multiple missiles being fired at a residential area. The text on the video says, “Iran attacks Israel today.”

Several Facebook users believe the video is real, with one commenting: “Swiping all Israel bravo Pakistan and Iran.”

It was posted amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, with the two countries exchanging airstrikes since June 13.

The facts: The video is AI-generated. Deepfake detector Hive Moderation stated in its analysis that the video is 96% likely to contain AI-generated or deepfake content. 

A screenshot from the same video was also flagged by AI image detector Sight Engine as 78% AI-generated, while Is It AI detected the image as 68% likely to be AI-generated. 

The video, posted on June 20, did not indicate that it was generated using AI tools, spreading confusion among social media audiences. While some believe the video to be genuine, others raised alarm over the dissemination of AI-generated video, with one commenter saying: “Please stop AI video, we want real news and real video.”

Since the Iran-Israel conflict began on June 13, a wave of AI-generated content has been spreading online. Several news organizations have flagged the use of AI tools to spread disinformation about the conflict.

Iran-Israel conflict: Iran and Israel have long been in conflict, dating as far back as 1979. The recent exchange of attacks between the two countries started after Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, a measure to prevent Iran from allegedly developing an atomic weapon. (TIMELINE: Iran and Israel’s open warfare after decades of shadow war)

Iran has maintained that it is not seeking to build nuclear weapons. In 2015, it agreed to a deal with six world powers to curb its nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. In 2018, however, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the agreement, with Tehran in turn saying it would stop complying with parts of the deal. 

On June 21, Trump announced that the US has joined the conflict by targeting three Iranian nuclear sites. The move has drawn international concern as Iran and Israel continued exchanging airstrikes.

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has previously debunked similar AI-generated videos of the Iran-Israel conflict:

• FACT CHECK: Video of airstrike in Iran is AI-generated 
• FACT CHECK: Video does not show Iran’s June 2025 attacks on Israel
• FACT CHECK: Video of Israel ‘attack’ on Iran is just game simulation 

– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com 

Angelee Kaye Abelinde is a student journalist based in Naga City, and an alumna of Rappler’s Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship 2024. 

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