Fact Check: Is video claiming to show homecoming of American soldiers after Iran ceasefire real?
WASHINGTON, DC: Following the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, ending the weeks-long war in the Middle East, a video has been circulating on social media platforms claiming to show the return of American soldiers after the war. The video has sparked speculations about its authenticity. Let us analyze and fact-check the viral video.
Claim: American soldiers return from Iran War
The viral clip shows soldiers getting down from a flight and being warmly welcomed by their family and friends at the airport.
The clip has spread across multiple social media platforms, including X and Instagram, garnering hundreds of thousands of views, and is claimed to be the return of US soldiers from the Middle East after America reached a peace deal with Iran.
"Another victory for Iran: American soldiers have started arriving home. After leaving the Middle East, American soldiers are saying, 'Why did we fight for Israel? If Iran is talking about peace, we will also stand with them,'" says a post on X.
The video has also sparked speculations, with some questioning its authenticity.
Fact Check: The video is not related to ongoing ceasefire
The clip, however, is not related to the recent ceasefire or return of the troops. A reverse image search for the key frames of the video reveals that Newsradio 1040 WHO, an Iowa radio station, posted the same footage to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok on March 12.
"Almost 600 Iowa soldiers returned home today following a 9-month deployment in the Middle East as a part of Operation Inherent Resolve," the radio station wrote in its caption.
According to the narration of the original clip, the soldiers came from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, and were deployed to Iraq and Syria for nine months.
The clip also mentions the footage was captured at the Iowa Air National Guard's 132d Wing base in Des Moines, the state's capital city.
According to the Facebook posts from the Iowa National Guard, the troops returned to the midwestern state on March 12 and arrived at three different locations, with more than 140 soldiers landing at the 132d Wing.
Donald Trump announces two-week Iran ceasefire
President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, April 7, agreeing to suspend planned military strikes as diplomatic efforts intensified following talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The decision came amid last-minute negotiations and a proposal from Tehran, which Trump described as a “workable basis” for a broader peace agreement. The pause in hostilities is also contingent on key maritime and security assurances in the region.
