An Old Image From Gaza Shared As Situation Of Sialkot, Pakistan After Operation Sindoor.

An image of a blast went viral on social media claiming it to be from Sialkot, Pakistan, recently. Sharing the image, users wrote, “Sunrise in Sailkot 🔥🔥🔥

Yes, Pakistan’s Sialkot is burning 🚨

#operation_sindoor is on 🔥

Facebook Link | Archived Link.

However, as we investigated, we came to know that the claim was false. This is an old image from Gaza. Here’s the fact check.

Fact Check 

We started our investigation by conducting a reverse image search. This led us to reports containing the same viral image. 

We found a report published on 16 May 2021 that contained an image similar to the viral image. The caption of the image read, “Fire following Israeli airstrikes on multiple targets in Gaza| Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images”

Taking this clue, we found the same image on the stock image website Getty Images. The description of the image read, “Smoke billows from a fire following Israeli airstrikes on multiple targets in Gaza City, controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, early on May 16, 2021. – Israel pummelled the Gaza Strip with air strikes, killing 10 members of an extended family and demolishing a building housing international media outlets, as Palestinian militants fired back barrages of rockets. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)”

We found other reports containing the same viral image that can be read here and here.

This makes it clear that the viral image is an old image from Gaza.

Conclusion 

From our investigation, we can say that the claim is false. The viral image is not from Sialkot, Pakistan, after Operation Sindoor. The image is old and from Gaza.