An X user, @AAliBaltistani, shared a video circulating on the platform claiming it shows an Iranian ballistic missile striking a power plant in Haifa, Israel. The post further alleges that the attack destroyed the 828 MW facility, leaving half of the country without electricity.
The caption reads:
“BREAKING NEWS
IRAN has blown up the Haifa power plant with a ballistic missile.
With the destruction of this 828 MW power plant, half of Israel is living in darkness.”
The post has garnered traction with over 82,000 views, 1,170 reposts and 4,500 likes.
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CLAIM
The footage shows an Iranian ballistic missile attack on a power plant in Haifa, Israel.
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search and keyword analysis done by The FactCheckHub revealed that the video has been online since November 18, 2015. The footage actually documents an explosion at a chemical plant in China.
The original video, titled “Massive explosion at Chinese chemical plant,” was uploaded to YouTube by the channel Crazy China Videos on the same date.
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The specific industrial structures and the environmental backdrop seen in the video are consistent with Chinese industrial zones and do not match the topography of the Haifa power plant in Israel.
The 2026 conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which reportedly began on February 28, was driven by intensified efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme. The situation escalated significantly following reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. Israel considers Iran an existential threat, while the United States has focused on dismantling Iran-backed proxies and regional infrastructure, leading to direct strikes on Iranian targets.
Although, The Times of Israel reported on March 25, 2026, that Iran appeared to target an Israeli power plant in a missile attack, the strike ultimately missed its intended target.
According to the report, an Iranian ballistic missile hit an open area in northern Israel during what seemed to be an attempt to strike the country’s largest power plant. The incident occurred amid continued Israeli airstrikes on Iranian regime targets, even as diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-week conflict were ongoing.
The report also noted that this was the fourth round of missile fire launched by Iran at Israel since midnight, triggering sirens across central Israel and parts of the north.
While Iran did target Israel’s power plant, the footage posted predates the current tensions and is unrelated to the ongoing Iran–Israel war.
VERDICT
The claim that Iran blew up the Haifa Power plant is MISLEADING. The video is recycled footage of a 2015 chemical plant explosion in China. It is not a recent attack on Israel.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
