Feb 24 • 07:30 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

Video that sparked panic: The truth about the evacuation of US forces via Beirut Airport

A viral video claiming to show the evacuation of US troops from Lebanon at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport was debunked amidst heightened US-Iran tensions.

A recently circulated video on social media has created a stir by falsely claiming that US military personnel were evacuated from Lebanon through Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport. This claim arose amidst increased tensions between the United States and Iran, coinciding with the US Department of State's decision to withdraw non-essential personnel and their families from its embassy in Lebanon as a precautionary measure. The department has maintained a 'level four' travel advisory for Lebanon, urging against all travel to the country.

The video depicts a large gathering of soldiers in military uniforms at the airport, which fueled speculation about imminent military escalation. The clip gained traction in the wake of the US State Department's announcement, leading many social media users to jump to conclusions about potential conflict. However, subsequent investigations revealed that the video was originally shared on the same day it was released, and not related to any real-time evacuation of US forces, dispelling the initial fears.

Investigative efforts included reverse searches and fact-checking, which established that the claims of US troop movements were unsubstantiated. Analysts pointed out that the spread of such misinformation can exacerbate regional tensions, particularly in the context of existing US-Iran hostilities. The emphasis on these types of narratives, especially during sensitive geopolitical moments, underscores the importance of critical information verification in avoiding unnecessary fear and panic among the public.

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