Video of Football Match Continuing Despite Missiles Is Unrelated to Recent Houthi-Israeli Attacks
The Claim
Yemen fights for Palestine while Saudis watch football during a football match, Yemeni missiles were seen flying over Saudi Arabia headed for occupied Palestine.
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Amid recent Yemeni-Israeli reciprocal attacks, social media users widely shared a video claiming to show Yemeni missiles flying over a football stadium in Saudi Arabia heading towards Israel.
MintPress News, which identified itself as an independent watchdog, shared the clip with the caption, “Yemen fights for Palestine while Saudis watch football during a football match, Yemeni missiles were seen flying over Saudi Arabia headed for occupied Palestine.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral video and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the video to be outdated.
Old Video Shows Football Match Continuing Despite Missiles in Gulf Region
Contrary to social media users' viral claim, the video is unrelated to yesterday's Israel and Yemeni Houthis missile attacks.
Misbar’s team traced the original video to August 2018, when Ennahar TV uploaded it to Facebook, claiming it shows missiles over players’ heads during a football match in Yemen.
Another media outlet shared the original video on August 6, 2018, claiming it shows a football match continuing amid airstrikes in Yemen.
However, other sources reported that the video was shot in Saudi Arabia, not Yemen.
An X user posted the video on August 2, 2018, saying it shows a football match in Samtah Governorate, Jizan.
The Ongoing Houthi-Saudi Conflict
The ongoing Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict is an armed struggle between the Royal Saudi Armed Forces and the Yemeni Houthi forces.
This conflict unfolded across the Arabian Peninsula, including southern Saudi regions such as Asir, Jizan, and Najran, as well as northern Yemeni governorates like Saada, Al Jawf, and Hajjah.
In March 2015, a coalition of Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, initiated a campaign of airstrikes and economic isolation against the Houthis, supported by U.S. logistical and intelligence assistance.
Throughout the conflict, the Houthis launched attacks on Saudi military bases and outposts.
The Recent Houthi-Israeli Reciprocal Missile Attacks
On December 19, the Yemeni Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking Tel Aviv overnight in solidarity with Palestinians. The group launched two ballistic missiles, reportedly hitting “precise military targets.”
Yahya Saree, the Yemeni Armed Forces’ spokesperson, announced the execution of a significant military operation targeting two critical and sensitive military sites in the occupied Jaffa region. He stated that the attack involved two “Palestine 2” hypersonic ballistic missiles.
According to Reuters, the Israeli military intercepted a missile heading toward central Israel. Shrapnel from the interception destroyed a school building in Ramat Efal, west of Tel Aviv.
Israel also carried out strikes on ports and energy infrastructure in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, warning of further attacks against the Houthis.
The Israeli attacks involved 14 fighter jets and other aircraft, executed in two waves. The first wave targeted the ports of Salif and Ras Issa, followed by strikes on the capital, Sanaa, according to military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani.
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that the airstrikes killed nine people, seven in Salif and two at the Ras Issa oil facility in Hodeidah province.
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