Images From Istanbul Airport Falsely Shared as Al-Abraq Airport in Libya
The Claim
Two images depict snow at Al-Abraq International Airport in Libya.
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Emerging story
Facebook users have been sharing two photos purporting to show snow at Al-Abraq International Airport in eastern Libya.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated claim and discovered it to be misleading. The photos were taken at Istanbul Airport, where heavy snowfall had halted commercial flights.
Istanbul Airport's official account posted the first image on January 24, 2022.
The second photo was shot by Sedat Pişirici, a Turkish journalist, at Istanbul Airport on the 24th and 25th of January, when flights were suspended for two days.
After a thorough investigation, Misbar discovered no official statement from either the Libyan government or its president, nor from the Libyan Ministry of Communications or the Libyan Department of Airports, confirming Abdul Hamid Dbeibeha's claim that the airport was closed. Abraq International Airport management announced on January 27th that two flights would be delayed until January 28th due to bad weather and snowfall.
Snowfall has been heavy in eastern Libya, particularly in Al-Bayda and the Green Mountains.
Translated by Wesam Abu Marq
