Social media users are claiming a video montage shows US troops in Gaza amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This is false. The footage features several different clips of American and Russian military vehicles in Syria.
The eight-clip montage (archived here) is the latest in a number of videos being shared on social media purporting to be from the current conflict in the Middle East.
The caption reads: “USA Walking around inside Gaza. Live 25 October 2023.”
However, analysis by AAP FactCheck has revealed all eight clips in fact depict the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
In particular, they show the US military’s withdrawal from the north of the country in 2019.
The clips appeared in a New York Times video from October 23, 2019.
AAP FactCheck has also traced the clips’ origins.
The first clip shows civilians protesting at US troops leaving the city of Qamishli.
The video, which appeared in a report by the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA) on October 21, 2019, depicts locals throwing stones and vegetables at the vehicles.
The second clip, also from October 21, was posted by Syrian news outlet North Press Agency and shows troops leaving the country’s northeast.
The third shows a convoy of US vehicles leaving Duhok, just over the Syrian border in Iraq (48 secs) while the fourth is courtesy of broadcaster Kurdistan 24 and dates from at least early October 2019.
The fifth is also from ANHA and shows US troops on the move near the Turkish border, while the sixth is also from Kurdistan 24 and dates back to 2018.
The seventh shows Russian troops on the move. According to the accompanying Euronews article, the Russians can be seen moving into Manbij, in northern Syria, following the withdrawal of the Americans.
The final clip comes from Ukraine-born journalist Oleg Blokhin and shows him exploring an abandoned US base in Syria, dated October 16, 2019.
The Facebook post is the latest in a string of videos and images purporting to be from the current conflict in the Middle East.
AAP FactCheck has debunked other videos and images here, here and here.
The Verdict
The claim a video shows US troops inside Gaza is false.
The montage of clips instead shows US and Russian forces in Syria and Iraq. Most of the footage dates back to 2019.
False – The claim is inaccurate.
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