This Video Does Not Feature the Arrival of New U.S. Troops in Erbil, Iraq
The Claim
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Emerging story
A video suggesting that the Al-Harir base in Erbil, Iraq, is crowded due to the arrival of new troops from the U.S. has been widely shared by users on social media.
A Twitter user wrote, “Today, the US sent a large number of soldiers and equipment to the Al-Harir base in Erbil, Iraq. On the video it was noted that the base was very crowded.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulated video and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to Iraq.
The Video Featuring the Arrival of Troops Was Shot in Afghanistan
Contrary to the widely circulated claim about the presence of new U.S. troops at Iraq's Erbil-based Al-Harir facility, there is no substantiated coverage of such reports by reputable media sources.
The circulating video captures the scene at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, Afghanistan, showing the departure of U.S. troops from Kabul in August 2021.
Off the Radar, a YouTube channel, uploaded the video under the title, “2021 Kabul Airlift, HKIA - Afghanistan.”
As indicated in the video description, the specific date was not mentioned, but it took place in August 2021 at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Another similar scene depicting the departure of U.S. troops can also be found in this video, which was filmed in August 2021.
Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Afghanistan
By August 30, 2021, the United States Armed Forces had completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, bringing an end to the war that spanned from 2001 to 2021.
The Trump administration and the Taliban had reached an agreement in February 2020, commonly referred to as the U.S.-Taliban deal, which was negotiated in Doha, Qatar.
After the agreement, the United States notably decreased the frequency of its air raids, which deprived the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) of a crucial edge in deterring the Taliban. Consequently, this led to a feeling of being forsaken both among the ANDSF and the Afghan populace.
U.S. Forces' Secretive Actions on Syria-Iraq Border
Reports from media outlets have disclosed covert activities by U.S. forces near the Syria-Iraq border, sparking inquiries. Allegedly, American troops stationed at Ain al-Assad base in Anbar Governorate, western Iraq, are contemplating the closure of the border stretch with Syria.
Unnamed security insiders have indicated that leaked information from sources at Ain al-Assad air base suggests a plan by U.S. forces to shut down the border area with Syria's western region of Anbar. This move coincides with the arrival of military reinforcements for U.S. troops stationed in the Syrian interior.
Despite a stable security environment and no apparent terrorist threats, security leaders overseeing the situation lack comprehensive insights into this strategy.
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