Image of an explosion published as the latest Hezbollah missiles targeting northern Israel 

Accounts recently published a photo showing missiles in the sky “X”, coinciding with Hezbollah’s targeting of northern Israel on 12 August 2024, at dawn. The photo was shared with the following claim: “Israel’s sky now,” indicating that they are Hezbollah’s latest missiles. 

Kashif verified image using the “Google Images” reverse tool and found that it is old and that the claim misleading. The image was published by “ Getty Images ” on 5 December 2021, with the following caption: “Rockets are launched towards Israel from Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, early on May 12, 2021”.

The website added in its description of the photo that Hamas said on May 12 that it “fired more than 200 rockets into Israel, in retaliation for strikes on a tower block in the Israeli-blockaded enclave of Gaza, which they control.” The website indicated that the image was taken by AFP photographer Said Khatib. 

The AFP BB News website also published the photo on 12 May 2021, accompanied by the following caption: “A rocket was fired towards Israel from the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, in the Palestinian autonomous region (photo taken on May 12, 2021).” 

Hezbollah targeted the coastal city of Nahariya and several settlements of Israel in the Galilee with dozens of missiles on Monday, 12 August 2024. Hezbollah said in a statement that the bombing came in response to Israeli attacks on villages in southern Lebanon, especially the town of Maaroub.