Old Footage of Iran's Underground Military Missile Bunker Resurfaces Amid Conflict with Israel
The Claim
Iranian media publishes videos from Iranian ballistic missile bases in preparation for response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
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Following Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Iran, social media users widely circulated a video clip purporting to feature Iranian ballistic missile bases in preparation for response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
X users shared the footage, along with the caption, “Iranian media publishes videos from Iranian ballistic missile bases in preparation for response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating footage and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the footage making the rounds to be older than claimed.
Outdated Footage of Iran’s Underground Military Missile Bunker
Contrary to social media users’ circulating claim, the video was not captured recently and is unrelated to Iran’s response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau.
The video was uploaded to the Sun media newspaper on May 30, 2019. The video was shared at the time under the caption, “Inside Iran’s underground Bond villain bunker ‘Missile City’ where rockets are prepared to strike the West.”
Furthermore, the same video was uploaded to the Daily Mail’s published article on June 5, 2019, giving credit to the original publisher, Iran Military Tube.
Iran Reveals Underground Military Missile Bunker
According to The Sun, Iran unveiled a video showing an underground missile base capable of launching ballistic missiles on short notice.
The footage, aired on Iranian TV, reveals a vast underground facility made of reinforced concrete, designed to withstand bunker-busting bombs, situated deep below the Earth's surface. The video displays several missile components, likely part of the Qiam-1 ballistic missile system, which has a range of approximately 400 miles. Iranian personnel are shown assembling these missiles in one of the base's launch rooms.
At the time, the U.S. has accused Iran of involvement in several incidents, including the alleged sabotage of oil tankers near the UAE and a rocket attack near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Meanwhile, Yemeni Houthis have carried out drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. In response, Iran has announced a fourfold increase in its low-enriched uranium production capacity, likely leading to a breach of the nuclear accord's stockpile limits.
In October 2015, CNN uploaded a video to YouTube from Iranian State TV showing Iran’s secret underground missile bunker.
Assassination of Hamas Top Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran
On July 31, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, Iran. The attack was orchestrated by a "short-range projectile" fired from outside his guesthouse in Tehran, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The 7 kg (16 lbs) projectile caused a significant explosion, killing Haniyeh and his bodyguard. The IRGC has accused Israel of being behind the attack, with support from the U.S.
Hours before Haniyeh's assassination, top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.
Iran Threatens Israel With ‘Harsh Punishment’ To Avenge Haniyeh’s Death
In response, Iran warned that Israel would face "a harsh punishment in due time and place" for Haniyeh's assassination. General Mohammad Baqeri, Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, declared on Thursday that "The Zionist regime will undoubtedly regret it." Baqeri mentioned that Tehran is currently deliberating on an appropriate response to avenge Haniyeh's assassination. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, "All fronts of the resistance will take revenge for Haniyeh's blood."
While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement, the U.S. has stated it "was not aware of or involved in" Haniyeh's killing. This incident heightens the risk of escalating conflict in the Middle East, amid Israel's ongoing barbaric war on the Gaza Strip.
The U.S. said it will deploy additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to strengthen Israel's defense against potential attacks from Iran and its allies. The Pentagon announced that missile defense forces are on heightened alert, reaffirming its "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security.
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