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Claim
A Biafra secessionist, Simon Ekpa, and other X users have claimed that an airstrike by Israeli forces in Beirut (Lebanon) targeted French oil facilities.
Verdict
This claim is UNPROVEN. Credible international news organizations posted this same video and the areas targeted but didn’t confirm that any French oil facility in Beirut, was bombed by the Israeli military.
Full Text
A self-acclaimed leader of Biafra agitators in Nigeria’s Southeast, Simon Ekpa, has posted a video of a massive explosion and claimed Israel blew up oil facilities owned by the French in Beirut, Lebanon.
This was after the French President, Manuel Macron, criticized Israel’s continuous operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
The self-styled Biafran leader, Ekpa, shared the video on Sunday and wrote, “Israel is fighting for survival just like Biafrans. The French multinational oil company is on flame.
The post generated over 40k views, more than 1k reposts, and 2.2k likes on X.
Other X users who also made this claim can be seen Here and Here.
Macron Hits Isreal
A call by Emmanuel Macron for a halt in arms supplies to Israel for use in Gaza has been met with an angry rebuttal from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The French president’s comments were directed mainly at the US and were part of continuing French efforts to revive its call for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
France provides few arms to Israel but is keen to strengthen its longstanding influence in Lebanon by showing it wants the US to put some genuine pressure on Israel to accept a ceasefire. Washington appeared to mount little diplomatic resistance when Israel – after sending mixed signals – rejected a US-French plan for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon announced at the UN in New York nearly a fortnight ago.
In an interview recorded on Monday, but broadcast on Saturday, Macron told France Inter radio: “I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop supplying weapons to lead the fighting in Gaza.”
Repeating his call on Sunday, Macron’s office said he favored a halt to arms exports for use in Gaza because a ceasefire is needed to stop the mounting violence and “clear the way to the political solutions needed for the security of Israel and the whole Middle East.”
His comments brought a swift response from Netanyahu. “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side,” he said in a statement. “Yet, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them.”
Verification
First, no reputable international news organization has authoritatively confirmed that Israeli forces bombed any French oil facilities in Beirut, Lebanon, on 5th October.
In a report by BBC, Israeli bombing caused large explosions in Beirut, including one close to the international airport during a further night of air strikes targeting Hezbollah.
The airport borders Dahieh, Hezbollah’s stronghold in the capital. Plumes of smoke could be seen over the city on Friday morning.
US outlets citing Israeli officials reported the target was Hashem Safieddine, a cousin of Hezbollah’s former leader Hassan Nasrallah. Safieddine has been widely regarded as the most likely candidate to replace Nasrallah after he died in an Israeli strike last week.
A news Channel on X, Suppressed News posted this clip on October 5th and reported more than 15 airstrikes by Israel on the suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.
“So far, the areas known to be targeted are a gas station on the road near Beirut’s airport, the American neighborhood [ Hayy Al-Amrikan], and Burj Al-Barajneh.
Check out other publications that corroborated this report Here and Here.
Conclusion
Thorough findings showed that no evidence supported this claim.
