Amid the escalating Israel-Lebanon conflict, a photo of a fallen helicopter has gone viral on Facebook, accompanied by a claim that it shows an Israeli helicopter recently shot down in Lebanon. The image has been widely circulated, with users sharing it as part of a broader narrative surrounding the conflict. The claim suggests that the helicopter’s destruction is a direct result of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanese forces, fueling further tension and speculation. However, Fact Crescendo has determined that the claim is misleading.
Social Media Claim
A viral photo published on Facebook showing a helicopter releasing flares against a hazy sky has been widely circulated on social media. The image is accompanied by claims that it depicts an Israeli helicopter recently shot down over Lebanon.
This claim has generated significant attention, but it is important to note that the image is not from the recent conflict.
This post, which has gained attention online, was originally shared by a Facebook user who stated, “An Israeli helicopter has just been shot down in the Al-Khiyam area, southern Lebanon, while transporting several dead and wounded soldiers of the Zionist army”.
The same photo, along with the identical claim, has also been observed and shared by another Facebook. This repetition highlights the viral nature of the image and its ability to spread across different platforms.
For more information and specifics regarding this post, you can find the details below.
Similarly, the above photo claim was also found and posted on Threads recently, with a claim pointing that “An Israeli helicopter has been shot down in the #Al-Khiyam area, southern Lebanon, while transporting several dead and wounded soldiers of the Zionist army”.
Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.
Fact Check
Fact Crescendo monitors and verifies these photos through the Google Reverse Image Search process, which leads us to find the truth as follows:
Fact Crescendo discovered that the now-viral image originally appeared in a March 2019 article by AFP through a reverse image search. The article “PALESTINIAN – ISRAEL – GAZA – UNREST” credited the photo to photojournalist Mohammed Abed.
The image description clearly stated, “An Israeli helicopter shoots flares over the Gaza Strip on March 25, 2019” indicating that the photo was taken during a separate event in Gaza, not related to the recent claims about Lebanon.
AFP News Report | Archived Link
In addition to the AFP article, Fact Crescendo also found a Reuters article dated March 26, 2019, which featured an image strikingly similar to the viral photo. The caption under the Reuters image read, “An Israeli Apache helicopter releases flares as it flies over the Gaza Strip on March 25, 2019”.
This further confirms that the image was taken during an Israeli military operation over Gaza, not over Lebanon as claimed in the recent viral posts.
You can find the details below for more information and specifics regarding this article.
In an era where everyone can share information at the click of a button, it’s important to approach viral posts with skepticism, especially in times of crisis. Always verify the sources of such claims before sharing them, and rely on fact-checking organizations or reputable news outlets to cross-check any information. The rapid spread of false information can have profound real-world consequences, especially during conflicts where emotions and perceptions are already heightened.
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Conclusion
Fact Crescendo found that the above claim attached to the photo posted on social media is misleading. The image above, circulating since 2019, shows an Israeli helicopter releasing flares over Gaza, shortly after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave struck a house near Tel Aviv on March 25, 2019.
Title:Old Image Falsely Claimed to Be a Recent Helicopter Shutdown in Lebanon
Written By: Fact Crescendo TeamResult: Misleading
