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US forces did strike Venezuelan military installations during their operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro, but a viral video claiming to show the attack is actually footage from a completely different conflict, fact-checkers have confirmed.
The video, which has amassed over 663,000 views on X (formerly Twitter), was posted on January 3 by an account called Noticias VN with a Spanish caption claiming it showed helicopters firing missiles directly at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela’s largest military complex.
Multiple fact-checking organizations have verified that the footage actually depicts Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025. The audio in the video features individuals speaking Hebrew, further confirming its Israeli origin.
BBC Verify senior journalist Shayan Sardarizadeh was among the first to debunk the false claim, while open source intelligence analyst Tal Hagin provided links to the original footage of Iranian missile strikes on Israel posted on June 15, 2025. Misbar, an independent Arab fact-checking platform, also confirmed the video’s true origins, noting some accounts had identified the location as Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv.
The spread of this misleading footage comes amid the aftermath of the January 3 US military operation in Caracas. US forces did conduct strikes against targets in the Venezuelan capital, including military installations, as part of their mission to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following their capture, the couple was transported to New York to face federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
Maduro pleaded not guilty to all charges on January 5, claiming he was kidnapped and referring to himself as a “prisoner of war.” He and his wife remain detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting trial.
The unprecedented US operation has sparked significant international reaction. The United Nations human rights office condemned the action as a violation of international law, while Venezuelan expatriate communities worldwide celebrated Maduro’s removal from power. President Donald Trump has stated that the US would temporarily administer Venezuela and announced controversial plans to sell Venezuelan oil.
In a surprising development, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who initially denounced the US intervention, has since indicated willingness to cooperate with American authorities as the political situation continues to evolve.
The circulation of this false video highlights the surge of misinformation following Maduro’s capture. Social media platforms have been flooded with AI-generated images of celebrations and old photos misrepresented as current footage of the US raid. Fact-checkers have been working to combat this wave of misinformation, which has complicated public understanding of the actual events in Venezuela.
As the situation in Venezuela remains fluid, media literacy experts recommend verifying information through multiple credible sources before sharing content on social media, particularly during fast-developing international crises when misinformation tends to proliferate rapidly.
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7 Comments
It’s really troubling to see how easily false narratives can take hold, especially when they involve sensitive topics like military conflicts. The work of the fact-checkers in this case is commendable, as they’ve clearly demonstrated the importance of rigorous investigation and verification. This is a valuable lesson for all of us to be more discerning about the information we encounter online.
The level of detail in this fact-check is impressive. Identifying the specific location, the language, and the original source of the footage is a testament to the rigorous work of the fact-checkers. In an age of rampant misinformation, this kind of thorough investigation is crucial to maintaining trust in the media and public discourse.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is the backbone of reliable journalism. It’s encouraging to see these organizations taking the time to meticulously verify the origins of this video and set the record straight.
This is a concerning example of how social media can be used to spread misinformation, even about major geopolitical events. I’m glad the fact-checkers were able to identify the true source of the footage and debunk the false claims. It’s a good reminder that we need to be critical consumers of online content and always verify information before sharing it.
Interesting that the video was actually footage from the 2025 conflict between Israel and Iran, not a US strike on Venezuela. It’s crucial that we all take the time to verify information, especially when it comes to such sensitive and potentially inflammatory geopolitical events. Fact-checking is essential to combat the spread of disinformation.
This is a prime example of the dangers of misinformation in the digital age. It’s troubling to see how quickly and widely these false narratives can spread, even when they are completely fabricated. Kudos to the fact-checkers for their diligent work in exposing the truth behind this video.
Wow, this is a really concerning case of disinformation. It’s alarming how easily fake videos can spread and mislead people. I’m glad the fact-checkers were able to identify the true origin of this footage and debunk the false claims. We need to be extra vigilant about verifying information, especially when it comes to major geopolitical events.