Claim: A video shows rockets that were fired towards Parachinar in Kurram amid recent tensions in the region.
Fact: The video is actually from 13 April 2024, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli artillery positions in response to their military strikes in southern Lebanon.
On 24 September, X user @_Saira_Khan787 posted a video (archive) that shows rockets being fired at night with the caption, “ضلع کُرم کے گردونواح میں مظلوم اہلسنت کی آبادی پر شیعہ طین زینبیون کے تکفیری دہشتگردوں نے ہر اطراف سے میزائل، مارٹر اور ہیوی مشین گنوں سے حملہ آور ہے مظلوم اہلسنت اپنی دفاع میں مصروف ہیں جبکہ اہلسنت کی آبادی ہر اطراف سے محصور ہیں ۔”
[Translated from Urdu: The Takfiri terrorists of Shia Tain Zainbayun are attacking the population of the oppressed Sunnis in the surroundings of Kurram district with missiles, mortars and heavy machine guns from all sides.]
The video was also shared here (archive) on X with the caption: “ضلع کرم پاڑا چنار کے اہل تشیع کے پاس موجود میزائلوں کو دیکھیں۔
وہ یہ میزائل اہلسنت کے چھوٹے سے سنی گاؤں (خار کلی اور صدہ ) پر فائر کر رہے ہیں۔
کہاں سے یہ اسلحہ شیعوں کے پاس آیا؟
کہاں ہے ہماری ٓارمی؟”
[Translated from Urdu: Look at the missiles held by the Shiites of Karampada Chinnar district.
They are firing these missiles at small Sunni villages (Khar Kali and Sada) of Ahlesunnat.
Where did this weapon come to the Shias?
Where is our Army]
The video was subsequently shared on Instagram (archive) with another claim, stating: “Parachinar is once again under attack by anti-Shia militants from all four sides, with SSP/LEJ teaming up with TTP and Afghan Talibans. The local Shia community is being targeted with heavy machinery and Shia locals are fighting by themselves against the terrorists to protect their homeland. There are no security agencies to protect them from the terrorists yet. Shortage of food and medicial etc took place in Parachinar. So far, over 15 Shias are Martyred and more than 50 injured, including women and children. Locals say security agencies must take immediate action to protect the local Shias.”
Sectarian violence in Parachinar
The Kurram district shares a border with Afghanistan and has long experienced sectarian strife between Shia and Sunni communities. In 2007, a fierce sectarian war broke out when the Sunni Taliban attempted to conquer Parachinar; more than 3,000 people died and thousands more sustained injuries.
While the severity of the conflict had reduced for some time, 2017 was marked by another uptick in violence. Both sides used a variety of methods including sophisticated assault weapons, suicide bombings, and targeted assassinations.
In 2023 again, minor incidents escalated into major sectarian conflicts, often fuelled by misinformation. On 4 July 2023, a Sunni van driver was shot dead near Norki village in Tiri Mangal, a predominantly Sunni area. Although the incident stemmed from a personal dispute, false narratives disseminated by prejudiced parties insinuated that Shia individuals had perpetrated violence against Sunnis, fueling sectarian motives. This misinformation led to heightened tensions and, shortly after, an attack on a government school in Tiri Mangal, where Shia staff from Parachinar were targeted, resulting in seven fatalities.
In July 2024, a land dispute between Shia and Sunni tribes escalated resulting in prolonged violence in the region, according to Dawn. As of 30 July 2024, as many as 49 people were killed and 200 others were injured, reported Dawn.
What’s happening in Parachinar?
According to Geo News, clashes between rival tribes in Kurram district resulted in at least five deaths and numerous injuries as of 22 September. The conflict erupted because of disputes over land ownership and trench construction in Boshehra. It resulted in significant exchanges of fire, particularly in the Balishkhel area. The report further added that a market belonging to one of the tribes was destroyed, although there were no casualties in that incident. Residents of the Bhagan tribe blocked the main Parachinar-Peshawar road, disrupting travel.
Governor Kundi criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for neglecting security. In response, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed the Home and Tribal Affairs Department to address the law and order issues, suggesting a grand jirga involving tribal elders and local officials to facilitate a lasting resolution.
On 26 September, Dawn reported that fresh clashes in Kurram district resulted in at least 10 additional deaths, raising the total death toll from five days of fighting to 30, with 70 others injured.
According to another Dawn report published on 28 September, a ceasefire announced by the Chief Minister was ineffective. The conflict involved armed groups using heavy weaponry, including missiles and mortars. It spread to various areas, leading to the closure of educational institutions and the suspension of traffic on the Parachinar-Peshawar Road.
The report further stated that the Kurram Deputy Commissioner, Javedullah Mehsud, confirmed efforts for negotiations to facilitate a ceasefire. Additionally, an ambulance was attacked in the Bagan area, injuring a Frontier Constabulary official. Elders from the Tori and Bangash tribes urged the government to intervene and resolve the escalating violence.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check conducted a reverse-image search on keyframes from the viral video and found that it was linked to a CNN report. The video opens with the host stating, “Fighting continues, as it has for months, between Israeli and Hezbollah forces along the Lebanese-Israeli border.” It then transitions to the video in the claim, with the host describing it as a “dramatic video of outgoing Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon into the occupied Golan Heights.” He further added that following the attack, “Hezbollah, backed by Iran, issued a statement expressing support for the Palestinian people in Gaza,” he further added.
The video was also shared here (archive) on nabdapp.com titled:
إطلاق رشقة صاروخية من لبنان تجاه فلسطين المحتلة”
الأحد، ١٤ أبريل / نيسان ٢٠٢٤”
[Translated from Arabic: A salvo of rockets was launched from Lebanon towards occupied Palestine on Sunday, April 14, 2024.]
On 14 April, X user @MuhammadSmiry shared the video, stating, “Rockets fired from Lebanon.” The same video was also shared here and here on X with similar captions. This further confirmed that the video shows conflict between Israeli and Hezbollah forces at the Lebanese-Israeli border, and is entirely unrelated to the events in Parachinar.
Virality
The video was shared here, here, here, here, here, and here on X. Archived here, here, here, here, here, and here.
On Instagram, it was shared here (archive).
Conclusion: Posts claiming that a video shows missiles launched in Parachinar are false. The footage is actually from April 2024, and shows Hezbollah launching rockets at Israeli artillery positions in retaliation.
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Background image in cover photo: AFP/File
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