Old Photos Revived As Recent Air Strikes At Myanmar-Thai Border

Three photos have been shared thousands of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim they show an air strike near the Thai-Myanmar border in March 2021. However, the photos have been taken out of context: they have previously circulated in reports and social media posts since at least 2018 about other military events in Myanmar.

The images surfaced after the Myanmar military launched attacks in eastern Kayin state in March 2021. They were posted here on Facebook on March 28, 2021, getting thousands of shares.

The post surfaced after Myanmar's military launched air attacks in eastern Kayin state, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, AFP reported here.

The air strikes marked a significant escalation in the military's lethal crackdown following February's coup, with the death toll reaching 564 as of April 4, 2021, according to local monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The images were shared alongside a similar claim in English on Facebook here, here and here, and on Twitter here and here. They have also circulated in Thai here and here.

However, the images have been shared in a misleading context.

Fact Check

A reverse image search on Google found the first image was published here on the website for Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing on February 2, 2018.

The Burmese-language article translates to English in part as: "Tatmadaw [army, navy, air force] Joint Military Exercise (Sin Phyu Shin) begins.

"Nay Pyi Taw, February 2".

In this context, "Sin Phyu Shin" refers to the name of the military event.

Naypyitaw is Myanmar's third largest city.

Below is a screenshot comparison of the first image in the misleading post (L) and the photo on Min Aung Hlaing's website (R)

A reverse image search on Google found a similar image posted in this tweet on March 16, 2020.

The caption reads: "Chinstate Paletwa Tsp In Wamakya village, a bomb blast by Myanmar military this evening killed eight civilians and wounded 12 others today".

The same image was also published in this March 16, 2020 article by Fighter Jets World, a website for aircraft enthusiasts.

The article's headline reads: "At Least 21 Dead As Myanmar Air Force Fighter Jets Opened Fire On Civilians In Chin State: Report".

The attack was also reported here on March 16, 2020 by Myanmar news outlet Irrawaddy.

The second image can be found here in AFP's photo archive dated February 2, 2018.

The photo's caption reads: "A Myanmar Air Force Mi-35 attack helicopter launches a salvo of rockets during the 'Sin Phyu Shin' joint military exercises near Pathein city in the Irrawaddy delta region on February 2, 2018".

Below is a screenshot comparison of the photo in the misleading Facebook post (L) and the original photo (R):