This photo was taken in 2006 after an Israeli airstrike on a village in Lebanon
- This article is more than five years old.
- Published on August 17, 2020 at 12:48
- 1 min read
- By AFP Middle East & North Africa
“Heart-wrenching moment,” reads a post shared more than 100 times. “The Beirut Blast victims were laid to rest today, but their yearning for justice can be seen in the eyes of every family member who they've left behind.”
The claim was posted on Facebook two days after a deadly explosion destroyed parts of Lebanon’s capital on August 4, 2020, leaving at least 171 people dead and injuring thousands. Included in the post was an image of coffins draped in Lebanese flags, purporting to be a funeral procession for those who died in the catastrophic blast.
A screenshot of the false Facebook posts, taken on August 14, 2020
Similar Facebook posts in Arabic were shared here and here.
Old image
However, a reverse image search on TinEye reveals that the image was actually captured by AFP in 2006 during the funeral procession of civilians killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting the southern Lebanese village of Qana on July 30, 2006.
A screenshot of the image on AFP Forum, taken on August 14, 2020
At least 28 civilians were killed, including 16 children, according to an investigation by Human Rights Watch.
The Beirut incident has been attributed to an enormous stockpile of ammonium nitrate that blew up in a harbour warehouse. AFP Fact Check debunked various false claims (here, here and here) that were shared on social media in the aftermath.
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