A viral video claiming to show an attack by the Yemeni resistance AnsarAllah on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been identified as AI-generated, according to fact-checkers. The footage, which attracted approximately 1.7 million views on X, was flagged by DW Fact Check on October 12.
Investigators found that the video had been circulating online since March 2026, months before the latest reported attacks on Saudi airports. The report highlighted multiple visual inconsistencies that point to artificial generation, including people appearing to move through glass doors and barriers, implausible human reactions to an explosion, and shadows that did not match the apparent fireball.
The debunking comes at a sensitive time, as there have been genuine attacks on Saudi aviation infrastructure at a time of heavy pilgrimage travel. Saudi authorities reported that a strike on Riyadh’s airport on October 10 killed 12 people and injured more than 300. The airport is a major transit hub for Umrah pilgrims preparing to board flights, with footage from the real attack showing smoke and fire as pilgrims were in the terminal.
Yemen’s AnsarAllah forces claimed responsibility for separate attacks, while Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation also reported another attack on October 11 that caused injuries and prompted damage assessments and safety inspections.
The circulation of fabricated videos alongside reports of real attacks makes it increasingly difficult for audiences to distinguish authentic footage from misinformation. Fact-checkers warn that such AI-generated content can spread rapidly during conflicts and be presented as evidence of real-world incidents, especially when civilian pilgrims are involved.
To verify conflict footage, investigators recommend checking when it first appeared online, conducting reverse-image searches, comparing landmarks and structures with verified photographs, and looking for visual inconsistencies. AI detection tools and digital watermarks can provide additional clues, but no single method is conclusive.
DW’s findings underscore how recycled or AI-generated footage can mislead millions, distort public understanding and intensify tensions during wartime. Social media users are urged to verify videos through credible reporting before sharing them as evidence of an attack.
