On the first of April, an airstrike of undisclosed origin targeted a consular building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The attack resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including two officers and five advisors from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Iran has accused Israel of being behind the airstrike, while Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for it.
In the aftermath of the deadly attack, Iran's Supreme Leader vowed retaliation against Israel for what he described as "aggression against the Iranian consulate in Damascus."
In anticipation of Iran's response, social media users shared misleading allegations, some of which were identified and debunked by Misbar.
This report examines the most prominent allegations that emerged in the wake of the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Israelis Seek Shelter Amid Fears of Iranian Bombing
As funerals were held for the victims of the Iranian consulate attack in Damascus, accounts on the social media platform X shared a photo allegedly showing Israelis of various ages gathered inside a room with white walls. The caption claimed they were seeking refuge in shelters due to the fear of a potential Iranian bombing.
Misbar's analysis confirmed that the photo indeed depicted Israelis inside a shelter in Tel Aviv. However, it was an old photo and with no connection to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
The photo in question, captured by Israeli journalist Eylon Levy inside a shelter in his residential building. It dates back to May 2021, during a period when Hamas launched rocket attacks towards Tel Aviv.
Iranian Weapon Trucks Enter Syria From Iraq
In the aftermath of the consulate attack in Damascus, accounts on the social media platform X shared a photo of military trucks loaded with armaments. These accounts claimed that the vehicles were Iranian and were transporting a diverse array of weaponry into Syria from Iraq.
Upon analysis by Misbar, it was revealed that the photo was originally taken by photographer Abedin Taher Kenareh in Tehran, Iran. The photo dates back to April 18, 2019, captured during celebrations marking "National Army Day."
Iran’s President Inspects Long-Range Ballistic Missiles
Accounts on X and Facebook platforms shared a photo showing Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, alongside the Minister of Defense and the commander of the Iranian Air Force, standing in front of a missile arsenal. These accounts claimed that the photo was taken after the attack on the Damascus consulate, during President Raisi's inspection of long-range ballistic missiles, in preparation for a response to the Israeli attack that resulted in the deaths of two Iranian officers and five military advisors.
Misbar's investigation revealed that the photo was not taken after the attack on the Damascus consulate. Instead, it was captured on August 23 of the previous year in Tehran. The occasion was the unveiling of an upgraded version of the "Mohajer-10" drones, which bear resemblance to the American MQ-9 Reaper drones, and the announcement of their commissioning.
Photo of Iranian Forces on High Alert in Preparation for Response to the Damascus Consulate Attack
On April 6, just five days after the consulate attack, accounts on X shared a photo alleging to depict Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in a heightened state of alert, preparing to respond to the Israeli attack.
However, Misbar's investigation revealed that the photo was actually taken in North Korea in April 2017. It was captured during a military parade commemorating the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.
Photo of Iran Raising Readiness in Response to Israel
On Saturday, accounts on X shared a photo purportedly documenting the transportation of missiles. These accounts claimed that the image depicted Iranian preparations to retaliate against the Israeli attack on Tehran's consulate in Damascus.
Misbar investigated the origin of the photo and found that news outlets had published it in February of the current year. The reports indicated that the photo showed ballistic missiles Iran used during the "Great Prophet 18" war games.
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