Clip shows Algeria fireworks, not Iran strikes on Israel

Published on June 18, 2025 at 11:21
3 min read
By Jan Cuyco, AFP Philippines

Israel and Iran's most intense confrontation in history has fuelled fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East. But online footage of red flares lighting up the night sky does not depict Iranian strikes on Israel; it shows fireworks in Algeria following a football victory.

"Iran attack Israel," reads the caption of a Facebook reel shared June 14, 2025. The video's text overlay says it was filmed "live".

Screenshot of the false post, taken on June 17, 2025

Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began June 13, 2025 when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities (archived link).

Israel claims its attacks have killed senior Iranian commander Ali Shadmani as well as his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid.

Residential areas in both countries have suffered deadly strikes since the fighting broke out, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens.

The video has also been misrepresented elsewhere on Facebook with some social media users believing it is from the recent crisis.

"I know Israel is strong, go fight back," one wrote. "When will their war ever end?" another said.

But the video shows football fans lighting flares in Algeria, and AFP has debunked earlier posts that had falsely depicted it as a scene from the Gaza war.

A reverse image search of keyframes on Google found broadcaster Berbere Television posted a similar clip on X on August 7, 2020 with the caption: "Algiers -- it happened tonight at 10:00 p.m. in Belouizdad" (archived here and here).

Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and video from Berbere Television

Keyword searches surfaced several videos resembling the clip (archived here and here). They show football fans launching fireworks and flares in Algeria's capital Algiers after CR Belouizdad won the Algerian championship in 2020 (archived link).

Elements from the falsely shared clip such as a billboard and a roundabout are visible on Google Maps street imagery and satellite view of a neighbourhood in Algiers (archived links here and here).

Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) with Google Maps street imagery (C) and satellite view (L) of Algiers neighbourhood

AFP has fact-checked more misinformation on the Israel-Iran conflict here.

Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.

E-mail