Misleading Video of Israelis in Tel Aviv Circulated as Missile Attack Response

Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.

The Video From April 2022 Central Tel Aviv Shooting

Misbar's team found that the video dates back to April 2022 when a gunman opened fire in a bustling restaurant district in central Tel Aviv, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and injuries to several others before fleeing into a nearby residential area, according to Israeli officials.

A CBS News article from that time noted that police suggested the attack might have been politically motivated.

Hours after the shooting, the suspected gunman remained at large, leading to a massive manhunt involving hundreds of Israeli police officers, canine units, and army special forces searching building by building in the densely populated neighborhoods of central Tel Aviv.

Houthi Rebels Declare Attacks on Israeli Cities and U.S. Navy Warships

The circulation of the claim came after Yemen's Houthi rebels announced their attacks on the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, as well as three U.S. Navy destroyers, using missiles and drones. 

The Iran-supported group vowed on Friday to maintain its assault on Israel until it ceases its "aggression against Lebanon and Gaza," following reports that an attempt to strike Tel Aviv was thwarted by air defenses. 

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated in a televised address, "We will execute additional military operations against the Israeli enemy to honor the blood of our brothers in Palestine and Lebanon." He further revealed that the group aimed at three US destroyers in the Red Sea, launching 23 ballistic and winged missiles along with a drone as the ships headed to provide support for Israel. 

Since November, the Houthis have consistently targeted Israel and carried out multiple attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, viewing their actions as a show of support for Palestinians facing Israeli assaults in Gaza.

Israeli Airstrike in Beirut Kills Hassan Nasrallah

Israeli forces destroyed multiple residential buildings in southern Beirut, asserting that the central headquarters of Hezbollah was located beneath them. According to eight Israeli and two American officials, who spoke anonymously about intelligence matters, the strikes aimed at Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, who was killed. The airstrikes followed a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly, where he defended his government's actions in Gaza and its war with Hezbollah, vowing to continue military operations despite international calls for cease-fires. The latest strikes resulted in at least two deaths and 76 injuries, with the Lebanese health minister, Firass Abiad, warning that the casualty count could rise as many individuals remained trapped under the rubble of the “complete decimation” of four to six residential buildings.

Abiad emphasized that these were residential structures filled with people, underscoring the human cost of the strikes. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on the Dahiya neighborhood, a Hezbollah-dominated area known for its dense population, shops, and apartments. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the attack, stating it demonstrated Israel's disregard for international cease-fire efforts. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with emergency workers sifting through the debris and thick smoke rising above the city.

Videos and images confirmed the destruction of at least four buildings, including several seven-story structures, and damage to nearby vehicles, with craters appearing in the streets. Israel's chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. 

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