#Fact Check: Viral Smoke Video Is Not From Israel-Iran Conflict, But Mexico Casino Fire
Executive Summary
Amid heightened tensions following Israel and US actions against Iran, a video is being widely shared on social media. The footage shows thick black smoke rising into the sky from a location, suggesting a major explosion or attack. However, research conducted by the CyberPeace found the viral claim to be misleading. Our research revealed that the video is not recent and has no connection to the current Israel-Iran tensions. In fact, the footage is nearly a year old and shows a fire at a casino in Mexico, now being shared out of context.
Claim
Users circulating the video claim that it shows an attack on Tel Aviv, Israel. On March 1, 2026, a user on X shared the clip with the caption, “Iran has drained the oil out of Tel Aviv,” implying a devastating retaliatory strike. (Post and archive links provided above.)
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the video, we extracted key frames and performed a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, we found the same visuals in a Spanish media report published on January 16, 2025. This confirmed that the video predates the ongoing geopolitical developments.
According to the report, the footage shows a fire at the Royal Park Casino located inside the Cinépolis plaza in Culiacán, Mexico. Local outlet Meganoticias Culiacán reported on X that the casino was “completely burned down.” The structure reportedly collapsed following the blaze, and emergency responders confirmed that several people were injured. Further keyword searches led us to the same footage on the official YouTube channel of Milenio, uploaded on January 17, 2025. The report clearly states that the fire occurred at the Royal Yacht Casino in Mexico and is unrelated to any recent military developments.
Conclusion
Evidence gathered during our research clearly establishes that the viral video is not related to any missile attack by Iran on Israel. The claim is false. The footage is from a fire incident at a casino in Mexico and is being misleadingly shared in the context of current international tensions, potentially creating unnecessary panic and confusion.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
Amid the floods in Nepal, several videos are being shared on social media, claiming to show the current situation in the country. A research done by the Research Wing of the CyberPeace found that the video showing elephants is from an incident that occurred before the floods in Nepal, while the video showing the street is likely AI-generated.
Claim 1
Videos claiming to show a street being swept away by flash floods in Nepal and a herd of elephants being carried away by the floods and reaching Uttar Pradesh are going viral on social media.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DcimGaiiCa7/
Claim 2
A newly surfaced video purportedly shows the devastation caused by floods in Nepal, with cars and homes being destroyed. It is being claimed that 350 people have died and 750 are missing so far
https://x.com/UTDbrims/status/2092829398462341484?s=48
Fact Check 1
The first video claims to show a herd of wild elephants that was swept away by the floods in Nepal and reached Uttar Pradesh. We conducted a reverse image search of the first video using Google Lens and found a report by Hindi news publication Dainik Bhaskar, which shared a video featuring visuals similar to those in the viral clip. According to the report, a herd of wild elephants coming from the Gerua River reached the gates of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Ghaghra Barrage in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, due to the strong current of the river. The report also quoted the Forest Range Officer as saying that the area is adjacent to an elephant corridor, which is why elephants frequently move through the region.
Fact Check 2
The second video shows a street being completely swept away by floodwaters. We conducted a reverse image search of the video using Google Lens but could not find any credible source that had shared the footage. Following this, we ran the video through the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which flagged it as 99 percent likely to be AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral videos being shared as scenes of devastation caused by the recent floods in Nepal are misleading. The video showing a herd of elephants is from a separate incident in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, and predates the Nepal floods. Meanwhile, the video showing a street being swept away could not be traced to any credible source and was flagged as 99 percent likely to be AI-generated by Hive Moderation.
Introduction
In an alarming event, one of India’s premier healthcare institutes, AIIMS Delhi, has fallen victim to a malicious cyberattack for the second time in the year. The Incident serves as a clear-cut reminder of the escalating threat landscape faced by the healthcare organisation in this digital age. In the attack, which unfolded with grave implications, the attackers not only explored the vulnerabilities present in the healthcare sector, but this also raised the concern about the security of patient data and the uninterrupted delivery of critical healthcare services. In this blog post, we will explore the incident, what happened, and what safety measures can be taken.
Backdrop
The cyber-security systems deployed in AIIMS, New Delhi, recently detected a malware attack. The nature and scope of the attack were both sophisticated and targeted. This second hack acts as a wake-up call for healthcare organisations nationwide. As the healthcare business increasingly depends on digital technology to improve patient care and operational efficiency, cybersecurity must be prioritised to protect sensitive data. To minimise cyber-attack dangers, healthcare organisations must invest in robust defences such as multi-factor authentication, network security, frequent system upgrades, and employee training.
The attempt was successfully prevented, and the deployed cyber-security systems neutralised the threat. The e-Hospital services remain to be fully secure and are functioning normally.
Impact on AIIMS
Healthcare services have been under hackers’ radar worldwide, and the healthcare sector has been impacted badly. The attack on AIIMS Delhi’s effects has been both immediate and far-reaching. The organisation, which is recognised for delivering excellent healthcare services and performing breakthrough medical research, faced significant interruptions in its everyday operations. Patient care and treatment processes were considerably impeded, resulting in delays, cancellations, and the inability to access essential medical documents. The stolen data raises serious concerns about patient privacy and confidentiality, raising doubts about the institution’s capacity to protect sensitive information. Furthermore, the financial ramifications of the assault, such as the cost of recovery, deploying more robust cybersecurity measures, and potential legal penalties and forensic analyses, contribute to the scale of the effect. The event has also generated public concerns about the institution’s ability to preserve personal information, undermining confidence and degrading AIIMS Delhi’s image.
Impact on Patients: The attacks not only impact the institutes but also have serious implications for the patients and here are some key highlights:
Healthcare Service Disruption: The hack has affected the seamless delivery of healthcare services at AIIMS Delhi. Appointments, surgeries, and other medical treatments may be delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled. This disturbance can result in longer wait times, longer treatment periods, and potential problems from delayed or interrupted therapy.
Patient Privacy and Confidentiality are jeopardised because of the breach of sensitive patient data. Medical data, test findings, and treatment plans may have been compromised. This breach may diminish patient faith in the institution’s capacity to safeguard their personal information, discouraging them from seeking care or submitting sensitive information in the future.
As a result of the cyberattack, patients may endure mental anguish and worry. Fear of possible exploitation of personal health information, confusion about the scope of the breach, and concerns about the security of their healthcare data can all have a negative impact on their mental health. This stress might aggravate pre-existing medical issues and impede total recovery.
Trust at stake: A data breach may harm patients’ faith and confidence in AIIMS Delhi and the healthcare system. Patients rely on healthcare facilities to keep their information secure and confidential while providing safe, high-quality care. A hack can doubt the institution’s ability to safeguard patient data, affecting patients’ overall faith in the organisation and potentially leading to patients seeking care elsewhere.
Cybersecurity Measures
To avoid future hacks and protect patient data, AIIMS Delhi must prioritize enhancing its cybersecurity procedures. The institution can strengthen its resistance to changing threats by establishing strong security practices. The following steps can be considered.
Using Multi-factor Authentication: By forcing users to submit several forms of identity to access systems and data, multi-factor authentication offers an extra layer of protection. AIIMS Delhi may considerably lower the danger of unauthorised access by applying this precaution, even in the case of leaked passwords or credentials. Biometrics and one-time passwords, for example, should be integrated into the institution’s authentication systems.
Improving Network Security and Firewalls: AIIMS Delhi should improve network security by implementing strong firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and network segmentation. These techniques serve to construct barriers between internal systems and external threats, reducing attackers’ lateral movement within the network. Regular network traffic monitoring and analysis can assist in recognising and mitigating any security breaches.
Risk Assessment: Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments are required to uncover possible flaws and vulnerabilities in AIIMS Delhi’s systems and infrastructure. Security professionals can detect vulnerabilities and offer remedial solutions by carrying out controlled simulated assaults. This proactive strategy assists in identifying and addressing any security flaws before attackers exploit them.
Educating and training Healthcare Professionals: Education and training have a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity practices in healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, administrators, and support staff, must be well-informed about the importance of cybersecurity and trained in risk-mitigation best practices. This will empower healthcare professionals to actively contribute to protecting the patient’s data and maintaining the trust and confidence of patients.
Learnings from Incidents
AIIMS Delhi should embrace cyber-attacks as learning opportunities to strengthen its security posture. Following each event, a detailed post-incident study should be performed to identify areas for improvement, update security policies and procedures, and improve employee training programs. This iterative strategy contributes to the institution’s overall resilience and preparation for future cyber-attacks. AIIMS Delhi can effectively respond to cyber incidents, minimise the impact on operations, and protect patient data by establishing an effective incident response and recovery plan, implementing data backup and recovery mechanisms, conducting forensic analysis, and promoting open communication. Proactive measures, constant review, and regular revisions to incident response plans are critical for staying ahead of developing cyber threats and ensuring the institution’s resilience in the face of potential future assaults.
Conclusion
To summarise, developing robust healthcare systems in the digital era is a key challenge that healthcare organisations must prioritise. Healthcare organisations can secure patient data, assure the continuation of key services, and maintain patients’ trust and confidence by adopting comprehensive cybersecurity measures, building incident response plans, training healthcare personnel, and cultivating a security culture. Adopting a proactive and holistic strategy for cybersecurity is critical to developing a healthcare system capable of withstanding and successfully responding to digital-age problems.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how the internet works? Yes, there are screens and wires, but what’s going on beneath the surface? Every time you open a website, send an email, chat on messaging apps, or stream movies, you’re relying on something you probably don’t think about: the TCP/IP protocol suite. Without it, the internet as we know it wouldn’t exist. Let’s take a look at why this unassuming set of rules allows us to connect to anyone anywhere in the world.
The Problem: Networks That Couldn't Talk to Each Other
The internet is widely called a network of networks. A network is a group of devices that are connected and can share data with each other.
Researchers and governments began building early computer networks in the 1960s and 70s. But as the Cold War intensified, the U.S. military felt the need to establish a robust data-sharing infrastructure through interconnected networks that could withstand attacks. At the time, each network had different standards and protocols, which meant getting networks to communicate wasn’t easy or efficient. One network would have to be subsumed into another. This would lead to major problems in the reliability of data relay, flexibility of including more nodes, scalability of the interconnected network, and innovation.
The Breakthrough: Open Architecture Networking
This changed in the 1970s, when Bob Kahn proposed the concept of open architecture networking. It was a simple but revolutionary idea. He envisioned a system where all networks could talk to each other as equals. In this conceptualisation, all networks, even though unique in design and interface, could connect as peers to facilitate end-to-end communication. End-to-end communication helps deliver data between the source and destination without relying on intermediate nodes to control or modify it. This helps to make data relay more reliable and less prone to errors.
Along with Vint Cerf, he developed a network protocol, the TCP/IP suite, that would go on to enable different networks across satellite, wired, and non-wired domains to communicate with one another.
What Is TCP/IP?
TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. It’s a set of communication rules that allow computers and devices to exchange information across different networks.
It’s powerful because:
- Layered and open architecture: Each function (like data delivery or routing) is handled by a specific layer. This modular design makes it easy to build new technologies like the World Wide Web or streaming services on top of it.
- Decentralisation: There's no single point of control. Any device can connect to another across the internet, making it scalable and resilient.
- Standardisation: TCP/IP works across all kinds of hardware and operating systems, making it truly universal.
The Core Components
- TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): Ensures that data is delivered accurately and in order. If any piece is lost or duplicated, TCP handles it.
- IP (Internet Protocol): Handles addressing and routing. It decides where each packet of data should go and how it gets there.
- UDP (User Datagram Protocol): A lightweight version of TCP, used when speed is more important than accuracy, such as for video calls or online gaming.
Why It Matters
The TCP/IP protocol suite introduced a set of standardised guidelines that enable networks to communicate, thereby laying the foundation of the Internet. It has made the Internet global, open, reliable, interoperable, scalable, and resilient, — features because of which the Internet has come to become the backbone of modern communication systems. So the next time you open a browser or send a message, remember: it’s TCP/IP quietly making it all possible.
References
- https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/ARPANET
- https://www.internetsociety.org/internet/history-internet/brief-history-internet/
- https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/tcp-ip-model/
- https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/tcpip-network-administration/0596002971/ch01.html
