No, These Photos Are Not From the Recent Missile Attack on Erbil
The Claim
Two photos show the damage caused by the missile attack that targeted a compound in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, at midnight on March 13.
News posted on
Emerging story
News outlets and social media users have recently circulated two photos purporting to show the damage caused by the missile attack on Erbil, at midnight on Sunday, March 13.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating photos and found them to be misleading as they are old. Media outlets published the first photo on Sep 30, 2020. The photo shows six missiles aimed at Erbil airport.
While the location and date of the circulated photo remain unknown to Misbar's team, the fact that it was shared two years ago debunks the claim.
The second photo was taken on Feb. 23, 2020, by Said Khatib, an AFP photojournalist. In this photo, Rafah, a southern Gaza Strip town, is seen engulfed in flames and smoke after an Israeli raid.
The claim emerged after officials from the Erbil province asserted that several missiles were responsible for the explosions but did not specify where the missiles came from and who carried out the attack.
Translated by Wesam Abo Marq.
