Video of Iranian strike on UAE found to be footage from 2023 fire in France
Thai PBS Verify found the piece of disinformation on: Threads
Thai PBS Verify discovered a video of a city fire, which was allegedly labelled as an Iranian strike against the UAE. The caption in English reads:
“Iran drone and missile attacks on the UAE
“According to reports, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), causing fires in some areas”
Published on May 5, 2026, the post has already garnered over 39,600 views.
The alleged UAE fire video actually depicts a 2023 fire in France
Thanks to an analysis on Google Lens, it was discovered that the clip originated from a TikTok account on July 1, 2023, featuring a description in French: “tout a brûlé au centre commercial de la croix blanche au Mee sur Seine (Everything is burning at the Croix-Blanche shopping center in Le Mée-sur-Seine).”
A reverse image search via Google Lens reveals that the footage matches a 2023 TikTok video in France.
Simultaneously, a similar video was found to have been published on July 2, 2023, with the description stating: “A shopping center in a Paris suburb was burned to the ground this week during riots after the police shooting death of a French-Algerian teen.”
The footage (left) was traced back to a July 1, 2023 TikTok post detailing a fire at the Croix-Blanche shopping center. A similar clip (right) from July 2, 2023, identifies the location as a suburban Paris mall during riots.
Extended searches concerning the unrest in France led to French media reports identifying the scene as a fire at the remains of the Croix-Blanche mall in Le Mée-sur-Seine. It was also reported that the disaster has taken a toll on local shopkeepers and businesses in the vicinity.
Upon comparison, it was determined that the two video posts are identical.
A circumstantial analysis of the footage compared to documented reports of the French riots shows that the site is indeed the ruins of the Croix-Blanche mall. This evidence confirms that the video has been entirely misrepresented and is unrelated to any reported clashes in the Middle East.
What is the truth?
Thai PBS Verify has determined that the footage being circulated as an ‘Iranian attack on the UAE’ is actually a recycled clip from France. The video captures a fire at a mall in Le Mée-sur-Seine during the 2023 protests following the death of a French-Algerian teen. Therefore, the social media post in question is completely unrelated to the recent Middle East crisis.
Verification Process
1.Visual verification via Google Lens: It revealed that the footage matches a video posted by a TikTok user on July 1, 2023. The original post featured a French caption: “tout a brûlé au centre commercial de la croix blanche au Mée sur Seine.”
The translation indicates that everything at the Croix-Blanche shopping center in Le Mée-sur-Seine was destroyed by fire.
At the same time, a similar video was discovered from July 2, 2023, with a caption stating: “A shopping center in a Paris suburb was burned to the ground this week during riots after the police shooting death of a French-Algerian teen. ”
2. Keyword analysis: By cross-referencing terms associated with the French unrest, the team identified reports from local news outlets stating that the footage shows a fire at the ruins of the Croix-Blanche mall in Le Mée-sur-Seine. The reports also highlighted the significant toll the event took on local shopkeepers in the vicinity.
Potential impacts of disinformation
- Misinterpretation of international affairs: Misrepresenting a French fire incident as an attack in the Middle East misleads the public and distorts their perception of global security and geopolitical stability.
- Causing groundless panic: This narrative can cause unnecessary distress for the audience, especially since it misrepresents an old incident from a different part of the world as a current crisis.
- Erosion of trust in media and digital information: The repeated sharing of misinformation can lead to a general distrust of online news. This skepticism often extends even to factual reporting from credible sources, ultimately damaging the integrity of the entire information ecosystem.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Verify the source of images or videos before believing or sharing: Always investigate the origin of the post and check for confirmation from credible news outlets. Avoid trusting content that lacks clear, verifiable evidence or supporting documentation.
- Use reverse image search for verification: Tools such as Google Lens can help determine the original context of a clip or photo by showing when and where it was first used, effectively uncovering the authentic source of the data.
- Cross-reference with reputable mainstream media: You should verify information with established news organizations, such as the BBC, Reuters, or AFP, to confirm the authenticity and factual accuracy of the reported event.
- Be cautious of sensationalist or emotionally charged language: Words like ‘attack,’ ‘missile,’ or ‘citywide fire’ are often used to grab attention. Always maintain a healthy level of skepticism before accepting such dramatic claims as truth.
- Think before you share: Sharing unverified content unknowingly amplifies fake news. Always ‘Stop, Check, and Confirm’ to ensure you don’t play a part in the dissemination of misleading data.
