BEIRUT — A video claiming to show aerial footage of the Beirut port explosion on Aug. 4 has been circulating on social media in recent days by Israeli accounts. But why? And, is the video even real? L'Orient Today has examined the video to uncover the truth. 

1. This video is old and taken out of context

A reverse search of the video indicates that it is old. It was first published on a YouTube channel by Abdul Hakim al-Idrous on Aug. 10, 2020 — six days after the blast. On his Facebook page, he clarified that he shared it as a simulation of the Beirut port explosion and confirmed it is not real.

Al-Idrous initially published the video with the title, "Live video from space of Beirut explosion, Lebanon blast simulation."

2. Israeli accounts have circulated this video before 

Since 2020, Israeli accounts have circulated the video alleging it to be recently leaked aerial footage from a drone, purportedly showing the moments just before the Beirut port explosion. The video depicts two explosions — the first smaller one preceding the catastrophic blast that destroyed part of the capital and resulted in over 220 fatalities.

Israeli social media accounts distributed the video with the caption, "to those who will understand."

On June 16, 2023, al-Idrous clarified on his Facebook account that he had no connection with any account or page that might exploit the video to spread false news about the explosion.

 3. Propaganda tool? Potentially

This campaign has been perceived by some as a type of propaganda, suggesting that Israel might have been responsible for the Aug. 4 blast. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel are high, with the latter threatening to escalate the conflict. However, no investigation has so far indicated any connection between the Beirut blast and Israel.

4. Part of a wider trend of fake news circulating

Fake news and misleading information related to the war are increasing. Last week, social media users attributed a news report to Reuters, claiming that Israel is expected to launch an attack on Lebanon within 48 hours.

Any claims that Reuters reported that Israel will attack Lebanon within the next 48 hours are false. Reuters did not report this.

— Reuters Press Team (@ReutersPR) June 22, 2024

Reuters issued a statement explaining, "Any claims that Reuters reported that Israel will attack Lebanon within the next 48 hours are false. Reuters did not report this."