Thai PBS Verify found the video in question on: TikTok
A social media post claims that Iraqi citizens spotted European Rafale and Typhoon fighter jets returning from Iran toward Israel.
Thai PBS Verify identified a post from a TikTok account “KNN Channel,” featuring footage of aircraft transiting the sky. The video was accompanied by a caption in Thai which could be translated as follow:
Iraqi citizens had witnessed a large squadron of fighter jets returning from Iran and heading toward Israel. The lead aircrafts in the formation bore a strong resemblance to European Rafale and Typhoon fighter jets. #USIsraelIranWarLatest #USAttacksIran #IsraelAttacksIran #IranAttacksIsrael #IranAttacksUS.
The content has amassed over 417,000 views and 250 shares. A review of the engagement indicates that the vast majority of commenters accepted the footage as real.
Is the footage of European aircraft attacking Iran real?
Upon conducting a reverse image search via Google Lens, Thai PBS Verify discovered that the clip in question matches a video previously shared on TikTok by a foreign user on October 3, 2024. The original video included an Arabic hashtag “#الجيش_المصري” which was translated via Google Translate to“Egyptian Army.”
A TikTok post falsely claiming Iraqi citizens witnessed European fighter jets returning from Iran (left), compared to footage filmed in Cairo, Egypt, during a military academy graduation ceremony on October 3, 2024 (right).
Furthermore, the team learnt that this specific footage had been previously debunked in Thai PBS Verify’s prior investigations. According to an interview provided to AFP by the original uploader, the video was captured in Al Shorouk City, located east of Cairo, Egypt. The footage was recorded during a military academy graduation ceremony held on October 3, 2024.
Supporting this evidence, the original high-resolution video reveals a vehicle license plate that matches the standard format used in Egypt, further confirming the true location of the clip.
The vehicle license plate from the original video (left) compared to a standard Egyptian license plate (right).
What is the truth?
The fighter jets featured in the video in question are not part of any military operation in Iraq or Iran. Instead, the footage captures the atmosphere of a military academy graduation ceremony in Egypt, which took place on October 3, 2024. The aircraft seen in the clip were part of an aerial display of military prowess during a parade over Cairo.
