2016 military exercise video distorted as recent Iranian-U.S. clash in Strait of Hormuz
Thai PBS Verify found the piece of disinformation on: Facebook
The OpenWire Facebook page posts a video, claiming that the Iranian Navy fired warning shots near U.S. ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Thai PBS Verify discovered a reel post accompanied by text on the Facebook page named OpenWire. The caption reads: “Iranian navy fires warning shots near US Ships in Hormuz #MiddleEastCrisis #IranianNavy #UsShip #OpenWire”
The video in question was published on May 4, 2026, as numerous reports were circulating regarding Iranian missile attacks on U.S. warships. The post garnered over 200 likes.
The video in question is derived from 2016 footage
Thai PBS Verify analyzed the clip on Google Lens and discovered the identical footage featured in a CNN news report originally published in July 2016.
Google Lens search results revealed that the same clip had featured in a 2016 CNN news report.
The clip is featured in a news segment titled “See a retired U.S. Navy ship get bombarded at sea,” detailing an event from July 2016. The report states that: “The USS Thach got pummeled during a joint military exercise off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands.”
A screenshot of the CNN news article on the 2016 U.S. Navy military exercise.
The 2016 military exercise footage is distorted during the Middle East crisis
Thanks to relevant keyword searches, a news report regarding the sinking exercise was found on the website NAVALTODAY.COM, which published a clip titled “RIMPAC 2016 participants sink former US Navy frigate.” The report covers participants of the RIMPAC 2016 exercise sinking a former U.S. Navy frigate, with the content summarized as follows:
In the RIMPAC 2016 military exercise, the navies of the United States, Australia, and South Korea jointly conducted a SINKEX mission. Live ammunition was used to sink the decommissioned USS Thach (FFG 43) into the ocean at a depth of 15,000 feet, 55 nautical miles off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. This mission provided personnel with the rare opportunity to gain skills in tactics and live-fire engagements against surface targets.
Prior to the sinking, the vessel underwent a rigorous cleaning process in accordance with EPA regulations to remove all hazardous chemicals, waste, and petroleum residue to prevent environmental impact. The sinking coordinates adhered to safety standards, requiring the location to be a specific distance from shore and at a depth sufficient to ensure no harm to humans or marine life. The USS Thach was the 34th Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, named after Admiral John S. Thach, the pilot who pioneered the “Thach Weave” tactical maneuver during World War II.
An image from the RIMPAC 2016 military exercise involving the U.S., Australian, and South Korean navies.
The clip in question shows the USS Thach (FFG 43) being subjected to heavy explosions while remarkably remaining afloat.
The RIMPAC 2016 military exercise
What is the warship shown in the video?
Regarding the warship in the video, a keyword search led to information on the Naval History and Heritage Command website. It details the vessel’s history: Thach (FFG-43) was a guided-missile frigate with a full-load displacement of approximately 4,100 tons and a length of 453 feet (138 meters). It was equipped with a Mk 75 (76 mm) naval gun, the Phalanx CIWS close-in weapon system, Mk 32 torpedoes, and Harpoon missiles. The vessel was constructed on March 6, 1982, in San Pedro, California. It was launched on December 18, 1982, and commissioned on March 17, 1984. The Thach operated as part of Destroyer Squadron 23, based out of San Diego, California, before being decommissioned on November 1, 2013.
A screenshot of the Thach (FFG-43) specifications, alongside its service history from the Naval History and Heritage Command website.
What is the truth?
The video recently shared by the OpenWire social media page, claiming to show the “Iranian navy firing warning shots near US ships in Hormuz”, is fake news. It is an instance of using old footage to distort the current context. The facts are as follows:
- It is archive footage of a military exercise: The clip depicts a SINKEX mission, which was part of the RIMPAC 2016 exercise held in July 2016.
- The location of the incident: This event took place in the Pacific Ocean, 55 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii. Not in the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East as claimed.
- The ship in the clip: The vessel is the USS Thach (FFG 43), a guided-missile frigate that had been decommissioned since 2013 and was being used as a target for live-fire training.
Verification Process
- Source verification: The clip was cross-referenced via Google Lens, which revealed that it matches a CNN news report published in 2016. The original report focused on the use of decommissioned warships as targets at sea.
- Keyword search: A report on NAVALTODAY.COM confirms that the footage depicts a sinking exercise (SINKEX) of the USS Thach. This operation was a collaborative effort between the navies of the United States, Australia, and South Korea.
- Vessel history check: Data from the Naval History and Heritage Command confirms that the USS Thach (FFG-43) was commissioned in 1984 and officially decommissioned on November 1, 2013, before eventually being utilized in the 2016 exercise that resulted in its sinking.
Potential impacts of disinformation
- Inciting panic: Distorting information during the Middle East Crisis may lead the public to wrongly believe that a direct war has broken out between Iran and the United States, which impacts international security and global confidence.
- Fueling conflict: False information of this nature is often utilized as propaganda to incite nationalism or stir international animosity.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Check the date and source: If you encounter a video of a violent incident lacking a clear source or originating from pages that are not mainstream news outlets, first assume it may be old footage repurposed for a new narrative.
- Observe visual anomalies: In this clip, the ship is subjected to heavy explosions but does not return fire. This is characteristic of a stationary-target exercise, not an actual combat engagement in war.
- Utilize verification tools: The public can use Google Lens or submit information to Thai PBS Verify for investigation before hitting share. This helps prevent becoming a tool for the spread of fake news.
