A video showing explosions and fleeing civilians is spreading rapidly across social media platforms. Pakistani social media accounts are promoting this footage with assertions that it documents a successful assault on India’s Jammu Airbase. The accompanying posts boast about “destroying India’s military reputation” and claim the video shows multiple FATAH missiles consecutively striking the airbase. These accounts are also questioning the effectiveness of India’s S-400 air defense system, asking why it failed to intercept the alleged attack.
Other social media users were also found sharing the same video.
Fact Check
Upon investigation, we found the claim to be misleading. During our verification process, we searched for credible news reports using keywords such as “Jammu airbase attack” but found no such reports from reliable sources.
Additionally, we conducted a reverse image search on a screengrab from the viral video. The image was traced back to a personal vlog posted by a Facebook user from Jammu on May 8. We also discovered an extended version of the same video posted by another Facebook user named GOF News, with the caption referring to a drone attack in Jammu.
Following this lead, we continued our investigation and came across a news report by The Hindu dated May 9, which stated that India had intercepted a ‘substantial’ number of munitions aimed at civilian and military locations. Military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur were reportedly targeted late in the evening, though no damage or casualties were reported. The report further mentioned that India responded in the same domain, with the air defence system in Lahore being neutralised, according to the Defence Ministry.
Conclusion
The viral claim of a drone attack on the Jammu airbase is misleading. While a video is circulating with such claims, our investigation found no credible reports confirming an attack on the Jammu airbase. The video originated from a personal vlog and was later amplified with misleading captions. Official reports confirm attempted strikes in Jammu and other regions on May 9, but no airbase was hit, and no damage occurred.
