Fact Check: Is the photo claiming to show attack on Los Angeles by Iran real?
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A photograph has been going viral on social media platforms, claiming to show an attack on Los Angeles by Iran. The video emerged amid the conflict in the Middle East, which continues to escalate, sparking panic and speculation among online users. Let us analyze the viral video and fact-check whether Iran really attacked the city.
Claim: Iran attacked Los Angeles
The viral image shows fire and plumes of black smoke rising from a facility resembling an industrial tank.
The photo that spread on multiple social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, claimed that the attack was launched by Iranian proxies in Mexico targeting US oil bases in Los Angeles.
The posts have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and came with a caption stating, “The latest news is that Iran launched an attack on a US oil facility in Los Angeles through proxies in Mexico."
Another Facebook post shared the image, captioned it as, “Los Angeles America Attacked by Iran."
Fact Check: Unrelated, image shows a factory fire in Texas
However, a reverse image search for the viral image proves that the photo did not capture an Iranian attack on Los Angeles, but rather a factory fire in Pasadena, Texas.
The search shows that the photo was identical to a blaze on March 13, 2026, broadcast on the Fox 26 Houston YouTube channel.
The video featured CCTV footage from the LyondellBasell (LYB) chemical plant complex. Visual similarities were evident in the Air Liquide logo and traffic lights in the area.
Moreover, it is unlikely for Iran to launch a strike on America, as they don’t have any long-range missiles. There is also no evidence of any Iranian proxies in Mexico.
If a major city in America came under attack, it would have been widely covered by prominent news media outlets.
Iran launches new wave of missile strikes
Iran launched a sweeping wave of missile attacks on Thursday, April 2, across Israel and key Gulf states within hours of US President Donald Trump declaring that Washington was “very close” to completing its strategic objectives in the region.
The strikes, which reportedly began even as Trump was speaking, pointed to Tehran’s defiance and willingness to escalate despite ongoing backchannel talks.
Iranian military spokesperson Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari dismissed the effectiveness of recent US targeting, claiming that critical military infrastructure remains beyond reach.
“The centers you think you have targeted are insignificant,” he said, asserting that Iran’s strategic capabilities are intact and concealed.
The missile campaign extended beyond Israel, with reported strikes on Bahrain and earlier attacks targeting Dubai.
