Fake Israeli account claims Iran hit by over 500 missiles, footage actually shows Malta fireworks factory explosion
Thai PBS Verify traced the source of the disinformation to the social media platform X
Post falsely claims Iran was hit by more than 500 missiles.
Thai PBS Verify found that an X account named “Iarael News” shared a video of a large explosion alongside the message:
🚨 BREAKING: Reports indicate a massive escalation as over 500 missiles are fired at Iran, with major fires reported across Tehran. The situation is developing rapidly. 💥
The post was published on Nov 1, 2026, and had attracted more than 309 views at the time of verification.
Is it a genuine Israeli news account?
An examination of the account found that it was created in April 2026. Although it presented itself as “Israel News”, account information indicated that it was based in South Asia rather than Israel.
The account location was identified as South Asia.
Did the video show a missile attack on Iran?
Thai PBS Verify used InVID-WeVerify to extract keyframes from the footage before analysing them with Google Lens. The second scene matched images published by Maltese media covering an explosion at the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in the Salina-Magħtab area of Naxxar, Malta, on June 1, 2026.
Search results linked the footage to a fireworks factory explosion in Malta.
According to news reports, a powerful blast occurred inside the fireworks factory, followed by a secondary explosion. The shock wave shook nearby buildings and shattered windows. Two people, aged 67 and 47, sustained minor injuries, while no fatalities were reported.
Time of Malta reported on the fireworks factory explosion.
Further checks using Google Earth found that the location shown in the second scene matched a coastal road in St Paul’s Bay, in northern Malta. The footage therefore had no connection to Tehran or any alleged missile strike on Iran.
Comparison between the video footage (left) and a map image of Naxxar, Malta (right).
A map of the actual incident
What really happened?
The X account “Iarael News” posted footage of a major explosion and fire on Nov 1, 2026, claiming it showed an unfolding global emergency in which more than 500 missiles had been launched at Iran, causing widespread fires across Tehran.
However, Thai PBS Verify determined that the claim was false and misleading.
- The footage was not related to any military operation, missile strike or security incident in Tehran.
- The video actually showed an accident at the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in Naxxar, Malta, on June 1, 2026.
- The account that shared the post appeared to be impersonating a news organisation. It was created only in April 2026 and, despite using a name resembling “Israel News”, was traced to South Asia.
Verification Process
- Account verification: Investigators found irregularities in the account name “Iarael News”, including the altered spelling. The account was newly created in April 2026 and was not linked to a legitimate Israeli news organisation.
- Keyframe and reverse image search: Using InVID-WeVerify, fact-checkers extracted frames from the video and conducted reverse image searches via Google Lens. The results matched media reports about the June 1, 2026 explosion at the Ta’ Lourdes fireworks factory in Malta.
- Geolocation verification: Google Earth analysis confirmed that the filming location in the video corresponded to the coastline near St Paul’s Bay in northern Malta, clearly identifying the scene as being in Europe rather than the Middle East.
Impact of the false claim
- The fabricated report risked fuelling international alarm by creating the impression of a large-scale military conflict involving hundreds of missiles striking a national capital. Such claims can heighten concerns about global stability, energy markets and public safety.
- The use of an account masquerading as an Israeli news source while publishing inflammatory claims about Iran also bears the hallmarks of an information operation aimed at provoking hostility, division and misunderstanding among online audiences.
- Disinformation actors frequently exploit international crises by using sensational headlines, such as “BREAKING”, to attract attention and rapidly increase engagement for newly created accounts.
What to do with this misinformation?
How to avoid being misled
- Check account names carefully. Impersonation accounts often alter one or two letters in the name of a well-known news organisation.
- Claims of a missile attack involving hundreds of missiles would be major global news. If reputable international outlets such as Reuters, AP, BBC or Al Jazeera are not reporting it, scepticism is warranted.
- Use tools such as Google Lens to conduct reverse image searches on dramatic footage or images.
- Report misleading content and impersonation accounts on X to help limit the spread of false information.
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