#FactCheck- Viral video of massive fire falsely linked to Israel-Iran conflict; actually from Dagestan gas pipeline blast
Executive Summary
A video showing a massive fire with thick black smoke is being widely shared on social media with the claim that it depicts a recent Israeli attack on Iran. CyberPeace Research Wing research found that the claim is false. The viral video is not related to Iran or any Israel-Iran conflict. It actually shows a gas pipeline fire in Kizilyurt city of Russia’s Dagestan region.
Claim:
A video circulating on X shows a large fire breaking out at a location with thick black smoke rising. The clip is being shared with a caption claiming, “Israel has carried out more than 500 surgical strikes on Iran in the last 24 hours.” Post link: https://x.com/ocjain4/status/2064700017361985702, https://x.com/ocjain4/status/2064700017361985702
Fact Check:
A reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video led to visuals published in a report on a Dagestan-based media outlet dated June 9. The report stated that the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s Dagestan department received reports of three explosions at a methane gas station.
https://riadagestan.ru/news/incidents/v_dagestane_vzorvalas_azs
Further research found that several Russian media outlets also published the same visuals on June 9, describing them as a pipeline explosion and fire in Kizilyurt, Dagestan
We also found a report published by DW on June 9, 2026, which stated that three explosions occurred on the Mozdok–Kazimagomed gas pipeline in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, resulting in a massive fire with flames rising up to 15 meters. According to local authorities, no casualties or injuries were reported..
https://www.dw.com/ru/na-gazoprovode-v-dagestane-progremeli-tri-vzryva-voznik-pozar/a-77481599
Conclusion:
The research clearly shows that the viral video is unrelated to the Israel-Iran conflict. It actually depicts a gas pipeline fire in Russia’s Dagestan region, which has been falsely shared as a recent Israeli strike on Iran.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
Amid the ongoing war between the United States–Israel alliance and Iran since February 28, 2026, two videos are going viral across social media platforms. The clips show people running in panic, with visuals suggesting a large-scale attack. Users are sharing these videos with the claim that they depict Iran’s recent strikes on Israel. However, a research by the CyberPeace has found both claims to be false. The viral posts are misleading, as the videos are actually from the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, United States. They have no connection to the current conflict involving Iran or Israel.
Claim
A Facebook page titled ‘Bihar Ko Nihar’ shared one of the videos on March 25, 2026, with the caption: “Iran has launched its most powerful attack on Israel so far. Thousands of soldiers are reported dead, triggering massive protests within the country, and Israel appears completely helpless.” Similarly, another video is being circulated with the false claim that Iran has launched a missile attack on the United States.
The above claims are being widely shared by multiple users across different social media platforms. Archived versions of these posts are also available.
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/4317571078525937
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/1485000739860984
- https://perma.cc/E98R-A4CT
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the videos, keyframes were extracted and analyzed using Google Lens. The first viral clip was traced back to a YouTube video uploaded on September 11, 2007, by a channel named ‘Jumperwtc’, which clearly identifies the footage as being from the World Trade Center attacks in the United States. This confirms that the viral video is a segment from that older footage.
For the second video, reverse image searches led to a report published on CBS8.com on September 10, 2021, where the same visuals were found. Further reesearch revealed that the footage also appears in a video uploaded on September 11, 2021, by the YouTube channel ‘CBS 8 San Diego’. The viral segment can be seen around the 1:11 timestamp in that video.
Conclusion
Both viral videos being shared as recent attacks by Iran on Israel or the United States are actually old clips from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The claims are false, and the videos are unrelated to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Executive Summary
A video is rapidly circulating on social media showing a man enthusiastically dancing to the Hindi song Sun Sahiba Sun. The clip is being shared with a sensational claim that it is a private video leaked from the hacked email account of FBI Director Kash Patel. In the video, a man can be seen dancing in a casual setting while people in the background cheer him on. Several users have linked the clip to an alleged cyberattack by Iran-linked hackers, attempting to connect it with ongoing international developments.
However, research by the CyberPeace found that the video has been available online since at least 2020. It also resurfaced in 2022, long before the current claims emerged. There is no connection between the video and Kash Patel or any hacking incident. Further research confirmed that the clip is not recent and has no link to any cybersecurity breach. In 2022, the same video had gone viral as a humorous post, with claims that the man was celebrating because his wife had temporarily gone to her maternal home.
Claim
On March 29, 2026, an Instagram user named ‘greyinsightsbharat’ shared the video claiming it was leaked from Patel’s hacked Gmail account. The caption read:“FBI Director Kash Patel's Gmail Hacked by Iranian Hackers; His Alleged Dancing Video Leaked.”
The research involved extracting keyframes from the video and conducting reverse image searches, which revealed that the same clip had been shared multiple times in the past with different, unrelated claims.
Fact Check
A reverse search also led to a December 2022 media report featuring the same visuals. According to that report, the video showed a man joyfully dancing to celebrate his wife’s temporary visit to her parental home.
Additionally, findings confirm that the footage has existed online since at least 2020 and has previously gone viral. The song featured in the clip is from the 1985 Bollywood film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, originally sung by legendary artist Lata Mangeshkar.
Conclusion:
The claim that the viral dance video is a leaked private clip of FBI Director Kash Patel is false and misleading. Verified findings show that the video has been available on the internet since at least 2020 and had already gone viral in 2022 in a completely different and humorous context. There is no evidence linking the clip to any recent cyberattack, email hack, or data breach involving Patel. The resurfacing of this old video with a fabricated narrative highlights how unrelated content is often repurposed to create sensational misinformation, especially during sensitive geopolitical situations. Users are advised to verify such claims through credible sources before sharing, as misleading posts like these can distort public understanding and spread confusion.
Introduction
The hospitality industry is noted to be one of the industries most influenced by technology. Hotels, restaurants, and travel services are increasingly reliant on digital technologies to automate core operations and customer interactions. The shift to electronic modes of conducting business has made the industry a popular target for cyber threats. In light of increasing cyber threats, safeguarding personal and sensitive personal data on the part of the hospitality industry becomes significant not only from a customer standpoint but also from an organisational and legal perspective.
Role of cybersecurity in the hospitality industry
A hospitality industry-based entity (“HI entity”) deploys several technologies not only to automate operations but to also deliver excellent customer experiences. Technologies such as IoTs that enable smart controls in rooms, Point-of-Sale systems that manage reservations, Call Accounting Systems that track and record customer calls, keyless entry systems, and mobile apps that facilitate easy booking and service requests are popularly used in addition to operative technologies such as Property Management Systems, Hotel Accounting Systems, Local Area Networks (LAN).{1} These technologies collect vast volumes of data daily due to the nature of operations. Such data necessarily includes personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email IDs etc. and sensitive information such as gender, bank account and payment details, health information pertaining to food allergens etc. Resultantly, the breach and loss of such critical data impacts customer trust and loyalty and in turn, their retention within the business. Lack of adequate cybersecurity measures also impacts the reputation and goodwill of an HI entity since customers are more likely to opt for establishments that prioritise the protection of their data. In 2022, cybercriminals syphoned 20GB of internal documents and customer data from Marriott Hotels, which included credit card information and staff information such as wage data, corporate card number and even a personnel assessment file. A much larger breach was seen in 2018, where 383 million booking records and 5.3 million unencrypted passport numbers were stolen from Marriott’s servers.{2}
Cybersecurity is also central to safeguarding trade secrets and key confidential trade information. An estimate of US $6 trillion per year on average amounts to losses generated from cybercrimes.{3} The figure, however, does not include the cost of breach, expenses related to incident response, legal fees, regulatory fines etc which may be significantly higher for a HI entity when loss of potential profits is factored in.
Cybersecurity is also central from a legal standpoint. Legal provisions in various jurisdictions mandate the protection of guest data. In India, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, imposes a penalty of up to Rs. 50 Crores on a breach in observing obligations to take reasonable security safeguards to prevent personal data breach.{4} Similarly, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union also has guidelines for protecting personal data. Several other industry-specific rules, such as those pertaining to consumer protection, may also be applicable.
Breaches and Mitigation
There are several kinds of cyber security threats faced by an HI entity. “Fake Booking” is a popular method of cyber attack, whereby attackers build and design a website that is modelled exactly after the hotel’s legitimate website. Many customers end up using such malicious phishing websites thereby exposing their personal and sensitive personal data to threats. Additionally, the provision of free wifi within hotel premises, usually accessible freely to the public, implies that a malicious actor may introduce viruses and updates bearing malware. Other common cyber threats include denial of service (DoS) attacks, supply chain attacks, ransomware threats, SQL injection attacks (a type of attack where malicious code is inserted into a database to manipulate data and gain access to information), buffer overflow or buffer overrun (when the amount of data exceeds its storage capacity, implying that the excess data overflows into other memory locations and corrupt or overwrites data in those locations).
One of the best ways to manage data breaches is to leverage newer technologies that operate on a “privacy by design” model. An HI entity must deploy web application firewalls (WAF) that differ from regular firewalls since they can filter the content of specific web applications and prevent cyber attacks. Another method to safeguard data is by deploying a digital certificate which binds a message/instruction to the owner/generator of the message. This is useful in preventing any false claims fraud by customers. Digital certificates may be deployed on distributed ledger technologies such as blockchain, that are noted for their immutability, transparency and security. Self-sovereign identities or Identifiers (SSI) are also a security use-concept of blockchain whereby individuals own and control their personal data, thereby eliminating reliance on central authorities.{5} In the hospitality industry, SSIs enhance cybersecurity by securely storing identity-related information on a decentralised network, thereby reducing the risk of data breaches. Users can selectively share their information, ensuring privacy and minimising data exposure. This approach not only protects guests' personal details but also streamlines authentication processes, making interactions safer and more efficient.
From a less technical standpoint, cybersecurity insurance may be opted for by a hotel to secure themselves and customer information against breach. Through such insurance, a hotel may cover the liability that arises from breaches caused by both first- and third-party actions.{6} Additionally, Payment Cards Industry Data Security Standards should be adhered to, since these standards ensure that businesses should apply best practices when processing credit card data through optimised security. Employee training and upskilling in basic, practical cybersecurity measures and good practices is also a critical component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
References:
- [1] The Growing Importance of Cybersecurity in the Hospitality Industry”, Alfatec, 11 September 2023 https://www.alfatec.ai/academy/resource-library/the-growing-importance-of-cybersecurity-in-the-hospitality-industry
- [2] Vigliarolo, Brandon, “Marriott Hotels admit to third data breach in 4 years”, 6 July 2022 https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/06/marriott_hotels_suffer_yet_another/#:~:text=In%20the%20case%20of%20the,of%20an%20individual%20organization%20ever.
- [3] Shabani, Neda & Munir, Arslan. (2020). A Review of Cyber Security Issues in the Hospitality Industry. 10.1007/978-3-030-52243-8_35. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342683038_A_Review_of_Cyber_Security_Issues_in_Hospitality_Industry/citation/download
- [4] The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 https://www.meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Digital%20Personal%20Data%20Protection%20Act%202023.pdf
- [5] “What is self-sovereign identity?”, Sovrin, 6 December 2018 https://sovrin.org/faq/what-is-self-sovereign-identity/
- [6] Yasar, Kinza, “Cyber Insurance”, Tech Target https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/cybersecurity-insurance-cybersecurity-liability-insurance
