Khaberni - Social media platforms were abuzz with a widely circulated video, publishers of which claimed it shows the departure of elements from the US military from Lebanon through Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Monday, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
The video's release coincided with the US State Department's decision to withdraw non-essential staff members and their families from its embassy in Lebanon as a temporary measure, and the State Department confirmed that the travel advisory level to Lebanon remains at "Level Four," which recommends against all travel.
The video, captured from inside the airport, shows a large gathering of soldiers in military uniform, prompting many accounts to speculate that a military escalation is nearly imminent.
After verifying the scenes and conducting reverse image searches, it was revealed that the clip was first posted on Monday, and widely spread like wildfire following the announcement from the US State Department.
However, a set of data and evidence refute the claims of US forces departing from Beirut airport, for the following reasons according to our research and verification process:
First: (Location evidence): The assembly of soldiers is clearly in the "arrivals hall" and not the departures; they stand next to baggage claim belts where travelers wait for their bags after flights.
Second: (Nature of the decision): The US State Department's decision only concerns embassy staff and their families, which does not match the scenes showing military personnel in their uniforms, and the United States does not have military bases on Lebanese territory.
Third: (Official statement): Lebanese authorities, in media statements by the head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammad Aziz, denied any connection of the scenes to the American forces, and the head of the authority confirmed that the video relates to elements from the Korean battalion who arrived in Beirut to join peacekeeping forces in a routine procedure.
Fourth: (UNIFIL data): The official records of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) indicate that the Korean battalion has been deployed in southern Lebanon since July 2007, currently comprising about 163 active peacekeeping soldiers as per the latest report issued this month.
In related context, the "Axios" website, quoting a source from the US Embassy in Beirut, reported the evacuation of about 50 people; a Beirut airport official also confirmed the departure of 32 embassy staff members along with their families on Monday.
This comes at a time when the United States has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East, amid warnings issued by President Donald Trump last Thursday that "very bad things will happen" if a deal ending the long-standing conflict over Iran's nuclear program is not reached.
