A VIDEO HAS been widely shared on social media with claims that it shows an undetonated Iranian ballistic missile exploding in Tel Aviv – but it actually depicts a warehouse fire in the US state of California.

The video has been shared by multiple accounts on X, Facebook and Instagram in posts that suggest it is real footage. Some posts have received thousands of likes and hundreds of shares. 

The video in question appears to show fire services tackling a large blaze. A truck sprays water onto a burning building with smoke visible before a loud explosion is heard, and the screen fills with a glar . The video refocuses to show more smoke and bright sparks in the sky.

Many captions in posts sharing versions of the video claim that the explosion occurred in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and was caused by an Iranian ballistic missile.

Iran has been at war with Israel and the United States since those two countries launched an attack against it on 28 February. 

“UNDETONATED IRANIAN MISSILE LETS OFF SUDDEN EXPLOSIONS IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE- TELAVIV,” one caption reads.

“An Iranian missile reportedly landed in Tel Aviv but failed to detonate, according to initial reports.

Emergency crews and firefighters approached the site to assess the unexploded projectile when an unexpected development occurred, prompting immediate caution and security measures. Authorities have since secured the area as specialists work to safely examine and neutralize the missile.

“BREAKING: Iranian missile lands in Tel Aviv but did not explode. Firefighters attempted to approach it. Watch what happens next… BOOOOOOOM.” reads another caption.

However, based on The Journal’s analysis, and as reported by other fact-checking sites, claims that the video shows an explosion in Tel Aviv are false.

The footage shown is identical to the early footage shared in this video uploaded to YouTube from 17 June, 2016, of a warehouse fire in California. The title of the YouTube video is “Maywood, CA Magnesium Explosion”.

The caption reads: “4th Alarm fire at a recycling plant on the Vernon, Maywood, CA border line results in several magnesium explosions. This is the largest explosion sending me and firefighters running for cover.  Over 100 LACOFD, Vernon, and Compton firefighters responded.”

Although the quality of the videos shared on social media is significantly lower than the original, and in some the footage has been horizontally flipped, it is clear that the same scene is being depicted. This fire was widely reported at the time.

Despite a number of incidents of missiles and other projectiles hitting Israel and Tel Aviv from Iran since the war began, there have been no reports in credible media outlets that match the descriptions of a delayed missile explosion given in the social media posts.

It is clear from the above evidence that false descriptions of the events have been given.

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