Fact Check: TikTok removed a viral video falsely showing an Israeli F-35 being shot down.

Fact Check: TikTok Removed a Viral Video Falsely Showing an Israeli F-35 Being Shot Down

What We Know

Recently, a video went viral on social media platforms, including TikTok, claiming to show an Israeli F-35 fighter jet being shot down by Iranian forces. This claim gained traction amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with Iran asserting it had downed multiple Israeli jets. However, multiple fact-checking sources have confirmed that the video in question does not depict an Israeli F-35 being shot down, but rather a Russian SU-25 fighter jet mistakenly shooting down its own wingman during a friendly fire incident in Ukraine. According to India Today, the video was originally shared on YouTube on June 13, 2023, and has been misattributed as evidence of Iranian military success against Israel.

Analysis

The viral video was analyzed by several credible fact-checking organizations. India Today conducted a thorough investigation and found that the footage actually shows a Russian SU-25 being shot down by its own forces, not an Israeli F-35. They conducted a reverse image search that traced the video back to its original posting, which confirmed the context of the incident as a case of friendly fire rather than an attack on an Israeli aircraft (India Today).

Additionally, Yahoo reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) labeled the claims of downed F-35s as "Fake News," further corroborating the fact that the video does not depict an Israeli aircraft being shot down.

The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations known for their fact-checking capabilities. Furthermore, the context of the claims made by Iran regarding downing Israeli jets has been characterized as part of a broader narrative that aims to project military successes that are not substantiated by evidence (Yahoo).

Conclusion

The claim that TikTok removed a viral video showing an Israeli F-35 being shot down is True. The evidence clearly indicates that the video in question does not depict an Israeli aircraft but rather a Russian SU-25 involved in a friendly fire incident. The misattribution of the video serves as an example of misinformation that can spread rapidly on social media, especially during times of heightened geopolitical tensions.

Fact Check: TikTok removed a viral video falsely showing an Israeli F-35 being shot down.