Fact Check: Does the viral video show Iran destroying the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain?
MANAMA, BAHRAIN: Amid renewed strikes between the United States and Iran following the apparent collapse of the fragile ceasefire, a video began circulating on social media platforms claiming to show an Iranian strike destroying the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, triggering panic and speculation. Let us analyze the viral video and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Iran destroyed the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain
The viral video, which claims to show a US fleet in Bahrain, is a compilation of three clips, one of which shows several ships anchored near a beach blowing up in a massive explosion.
The clip of the explosion was followed by footage of nighttime sports field scenes where people casually watch the missile flying in the sky, and the final footage shows daytime views from a ship deck or platform overlooking the sea, as the people on board watch a missile flying by in the sky.
The video, which has been viewed by more than two million users, has sparked concerns among many about the conflict being escalated, while a few others dismissed it as fake, calling for a fact check.
Fact Check: The video is AI-generated
The video, however, is fake and is generated using artificial intelligence. It has been circulating in online spaces since March.
An X (formerly Twitter) post that shared the video, which has garnered more than one and a half million views, even has a label underneath it stating, "Made with AI."
Although Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Wednesday, June 24, that it had launched missile and drone attacks against US military installations in the Gulf region, the claim was swiftly rejected by the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to CENTCOM, all Iranian attacks had either been intercepted or failed to reach their intended targets.
If Iran had really struck the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain as seen in the video, it would have been reported by prominent news outlets such as Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera.
Renewed strikes disrupt shipping through Strait of Hormuz
The renewed fighting has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world's most important energy routes.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an unidentified projectile hit a commercial tanker passing through the strait, damaging the vessel but not causing any injuries.
In response, the Joint Maritime Information Center raised the security threat level to "substantial" and changed shipping routes near Oman to improve the safety of commercial vessels.
While US officials do not believe the latest exchanges indicate a return to full-scale conflict, the renewed strikes have put pressure on the administration's Middle East peace efforts.
