Real Video, False Claim: Tel Aviv Post Contains Disinformation

On May 18, 2026, a 25-second video was posted on X by @IranNewsFeedX. The post claimed that the footage showed damage caused by an explosion in Tel Aviv.

The video received more than 46,800 views, over 2,300 likes, and more than 995 reposts. To determine whether the footage had been generated using artificial intelligence, it was analyzed using Google SynthID and HIVE Moderation. Both tools indicated that the video was authentic and not AI-generated. The footage clearly displays a sign reading “Royal Yak.” However, further investigation found no business by that name operating in Tel Aviv. Moreover, no reputable news sources reported an explosion in Tel Aviv on the date the video was shared.

 

To verify the origin of the footage, selected frames were examined using Google’s reverse image search. The analysis revealed that the images were taken from an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on January 16, 2025, at a casino located in Plaza Cinépolis in Culiacán, Mexico.

In conclusion, while the video contains authentic footage and was not generated using artificial intelligence, it does not depict an explosion in Tel Aviv. Instead, the video shows a real event that occurred in a different country and at a different time. By presenting genuine footage in a misleading context, the post constitutes an example of disinformation. This case demonstrates that even authentic visual content can be manipulated through false attribution, underscoring the importance of verifying not only whether images are real but also where and when they were recorded.

 

 

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com.

The Same AI-Generated Video Reposted with Different War Claims

On May 4, 2026, several news websites published reports alleging that Iran had struck a U.S. warship. However, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) denied these claims and issued an official statement confirming that no such attack had occurred.

Despite this clarification, numerous social media users—primarily on X—shared videos purporting to show Iran attacking a U.S. naval vessel. One such video was posted on May 4, 2026, by the user @almohamadawi31.

Within 15 hours, the video had been viewed more than 107,000 times, reposted 543 times, and received over 1,400 likes. Subsequent analysis revealed that the footage was not authentic but had been generated using artificial intelligence. A review conducted using HIVE Moderation confirmed that the video was AI-generated.

The same AI-generated video, originally shared on May 4, 2026, was reposted on June 4, 2026, by the user @RussianArmys. In this instance, the accompanying claim alleged that Russia had launched a devastating missile attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, completely destroying the vessel and killing more than 200 personnel. The reposted video received over 107,200 views and more than 309 likes.

However, technical verification confirmed that the reposted footage was identical to the video circulated on May 4 and was entirely AI-generated. This case illustrates how the same synthetic content can be repurposed at different times and attributed to entirely different conflicts. Moreover, a review of posts from the account @RussianArmys indicates a consistent pattern of sharing unverified claims, fake news, disinformation, and AI-generated media.

In conclusion, both the video claiming that Iran attacked a U.S. warship and the video alleging a Russian attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln were generated using artificial intelligence. The repeated circulation of identical AI-generated content under different geopolitical conflicts demonstrates how easily synthetic disinformation can spread across social media platforms. Therefore, especially in the context of military conflicts and international crises, it is essential to verify visual content using reliable sources and technical detection tools.

If you suspect that a video, image, or audio file has been created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology and would like free assistance in verifying its authenticity, you may send the link to the content or the file itself to allaboutdeepfake@gmail.com.