Beirut Destruction Footage is AI-Generated
The Claim
Beirut was bombed relentlessly last night, which is generally an indicator that the ground offensive in Lebanon is going poorly.
News posted on
Emerging story
Amidst ongoing tensions in the region, social media users have been circulating a video claiming to show Beirut engulfed in flames as a result of an airstrike carried out by Israeli offensive forces.”
An X user posted the video along with the caption, “Beirut was bombed relentlessly last night, which is generally an indicator that the ground offensive in Lebanon is going poorly.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
Misbar's team found that the video shown is not from Beirut, Lebanon. It was created using an AI tool by a TikTok user called digital.n0mad who labeled the video as AI-generated.
The account focused on producing AI-generated videos, whose bio on the app says they are an “UNUSUAL AI ARTIST.” This account published videos that depict destruction and its aftermath.
Escalating Violence: Beirut and Gaza Face Heavy Strikes
The circulation of the claim came after numerous airstrikes struck the southern suburbs of Beirut late Saturday into Sunday, as reported by witnesses. Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defense agency announced that 24 individuals lost their lives and dozens more were injured due to an Israeli airstrike targeting a mosque in central Gaza early on Sunday morning.
The bombing, which hit near Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, raised concerns among witnesses about the potential for casualties to increase, as the mosque was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. In Beirut, the Israeli airstrikes generated loud explosions throughout the city, illuminating the sky with red and white flashes for almost half an hour, visible from several kilometers away.
These strikes followed several days of Israeli bombardments on the Beirut suburbs, known as strongholds for the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Reports indicated the death of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and possibly that of his likely successor.
A Lebanese security source mentioned that Hashem Safieddine, the potential next leader, had been unreachable since Friday, following an Israeli strike near the international airport that reportedly aimed at him. Lebanese security officials noted that Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh, a residential area that is a Hezbollah stronghold south of central Beirut, were hindering rescue operations in the aftermath of an attack that occurred on Thursday night.
Intense Israeli Bombardment Claims Lives in Jabalia Refugee Camp
The Israeli military has conducted heavy bombardment in the Jabalia refugee camp, resulting in the death of at least 17 individuals, including nine children, just hours after ordering residents to evacuate.
This marks the third ground assault on the densely populated camp in northern Gaza since the onset of the conflict a year ago. The Palestinian Civil Defence agency reported that the attacks included airstrikes and the deployment of tanks, which had not been seen in the area for months. Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal noted that Jabalia experienced multiple strikes overnight, leading to significant casualties.
Residents described the recent violence as one of the worst in recent months, with one local, Raed, 52, stating that the ground trembled from the explosions, reminiscent of the war's early days. On Sunday morning, the Israeli military announced that its forces had effectively encircled the refugee camp and were actively operating in the vicinity.
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