This Image Does Not Depict Iranian Preparations for a Potential Attack on Israel
The Claim
The Islamic Republic of Iran raises readiness.
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Emerging story
Recently, accounts on social media platform X have been circulating a photo claiming to depict preparations by the Islamic Republic of Iran for launching attacks against Israel.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The circulated photo is actually old and does not pertain to recent preparations by the Islamic Republic of Iran for retaliatory actions against Israel. This is particularly relevant following Israel's targeting of its consulate in Syria last Monday.
Iranian Military Drills Conducted in February 2024
News accounts posted the photo in February, claiming it to be of Iranian ballistic missiles utilized during the “Great Prophet 18” war games.
During January and February 2024, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's ground forces conducted the “Great Prophet 18” war games, during which ballistic missiles were launched. Iranian media outlets released footage from the military exercises, depicting simulated attacks on Israel's Nevatim Airbase by the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace force, using Emad and Hajj Qassem ballistic missiles, among others.
Iran Threatens Israel
The circulation of the image comes in the wake of Iran's renewed threat to retaliate against Israel after the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last Monday.
Iran declared that "the act of attacking the Iranian consulate in Damascus and the resulting deaths of security personnel is a clear violation of international regulations, which will not go unanswered."
Funeral Procession for Iranian Embassy Victims in Syria
On Monday evening, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the killing of Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the Quds Force affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard in Syria and Lebanon, along with his deputy Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi and five other accompanying officers, in an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
On Friday, thousands of Iranians participated in funeral ceremonies for the Revolutionary Guard members killed in the airstrike.
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