A post shared on X claims a video shows Israeli air defense interceptors, not Iranian ballistic missiles.

This video is in reverse. These are Israel’s interceptor missiles being launched. The “explosions” you see and hear are the ignition of interceptors.

If these were hits, you would see huge explosions, fire, and smoke. https://t.co/qnXhL8ztEm

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) October 1, 2024

Verdict: Misleading

The video shows Iranian ballistic missiles, not Israeli interceptors.

Fact Check:

Iran launched a massive missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1, according to CBS News. This comes as Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at combatting Hezbollah militants.

Social media users are claiming a video showing Iranian ballistic missile impacts in Israel actually shows Israeli air defenses and that the video is reversed.

“This video is in reverse. These are Israel’s interceptor missiles being launched. The ‘explosions’ you see and hear are the ignition of interceptors. If these were hits, you would see huge explosions, fire, and smoke,” Dr. Eli David wrote in an X post.

This claim is misleading. There is no evidence that the “video is in reverse.” The impacts appear to be from the missiles, not from Israeli air defense systems opening fire on incoming Iranian projectiles.

Several open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts have posted the video and described it as an Iranian ballistic missile attack. For example, OSINTtechnical, who works for Hunterbrook, posted the video and said it was an Iranian ballistic missile attack.

Massive Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel this evening, in at least two waves. Reports of hundreds of Iranian missiles fired, likely overwhelming Israeli and US BMD systems in the area.

Seen here, dozens of ballistic missile impacts. pic.twitter.com/zAq28BMYyY

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) October 1, 2024

“Massive Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel this evening, in at least two waves. Reports of hundreds of Iranian missiles fired, likely overwhelming Israeli and US BMD systems in the area. Seen here, dozens of ballistic missile impacts,” OSINTtechnical tweeted.

Aurora Intel, one of the accounts that shared the video, told Check Your Fact in a direct message that it was “100% not a reverse.” (Aurora Intel has been cited by Check Your Fact before.)

“The launch of anti missile systems would be more concentrated together as it would come from a battery. This is sporadic and how you would expect to see missile impacts,” Aurora Intel said.