On February 2, 2026, a post went viral on social media claiming that a video showed intense aerial bombardment at Tumm Gate, a border crossing between Libya and Niger. The post garnered over 8,000 interactions and 515 comments. However, a fact-check by Annir revealed that the video was not related to any military operations in southern Libya.
Annir's investigation found that the video was actually from a video game. A reverse image search revealed that the footage was originally posted by a digital content creator specializing in video games on his official Facebook account, Gamerx, nearly three weeks before the viral post. The original video was accompanied by text indicating that it was from a digital game.
Further investigation revealed that the content creator, Gamerx, designs and publishes videos in a similar style, suggesting that the footage was entirely digitally created with high-definition visual simulation. The video was edited and exploited to mislead the public into believing it was live footage from the battlefield.
The viral post coincided with an announcement by the Libyan National Army that it had regained control of the Tumm Gate border crossing with Niger after a surprise attack by armed groups calling themselves "Southern Rebels". The Libyan National Army's announcement added to the confusion, leading many to believe the video was genuine.
Annir's fact-check concluded that the video was not related to the conflict in Libya and was, in fact, a digitally created simulation. The organization classified the claim as misleading, as it was a video game clip presented in a misleading context.
The incident highlights the challenges of verifying information on social media, particularly in conflict zones. The spread of misinformation can have serious consequences, including fueling tensions and influencing public opinion. Annir's fact-check serves as a reminder to be cautious when sharing information online and to verify the accuracy of claims before accepting them as true.
The Tumm Gate border crossing has been a point of contention in the region, with various groups vying for control. The Libyan National Army's announcement of regaining control of the crossing was seen as a significant development in the region. However, the viral video claiming to show aerial bombardment at the crossing was a false narrative that was quickly debunked by Annir's fact-check.
Key points
- A viral video claiming to show intense aerial bombardment at Libya's Tumm Gate border crossing was revealed to be footage from a video game.
- The video was originally posted by a digital content creator specializing in video games on his official Facebook account, Gamerx.
- Annir's fact-check concluded that the claim was misleading, as it was a video game clip presented in a misleading context.
