The Claim
On October 11, 2026, a Facebook page titled “Eritrea daily” which has about 63,000 followers, shared an image of a military tank surrounded by Eritrean flags and soldiers. The English caption read: “Eritrean military garage in Asseb.”
Verdict
The image does not show an Eritrean tank in Asseb. It is a digitally altered (deepfake) version of a photo taken at the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition.
Investigation & Findings
On October 11, 2026, “Eritrea Daily” posted an image of a military tank on display. Several Eritrean flags hang above it, and soldiers stand nearby. The caption reads, “Eritrean military garage in Asseb” (see screenshot below).
Image 1: Screenshot claiming to show a military tank surrounded by Eritrean flags and soldiers.
MFC’s verification team analyzed the image with the AI or not detection tool. The tool flagged it as a “likely deepfake,” with a deepfake score of 80% (see screenshot below).
Image 2: A screenshot of the AI or not detection tool’s diagnostic results.
MFC also traced the original photo. The defense news website Zona Militar published it on July 1, 2026, under the headline: “A look into the future? LRMV showcases what would be the new tank of the Italian Army at Eurosatory 2026” (see screenshot below).
Image 3: Zona Militar published the original on July 1, 2026, under the headline: “A look into the future?”
A side-by-side comparison confirms the manipulation. The tank, its camouflage pattern, the exhibition hall, and the display platform are identical in both images. But the red “Leonardo” banners in the original have been replaced with Eritrean flags. The visitors in business suits have been replaced with soldiers in desert uniforms. The photo shows a concept tank from Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV) at a European defense exhibition, not military equipment in Asseb. The post by “Eritrea Daily” is therefore false.
Context
Ethiopia and Eritrea share a complex history of war, diplomatic reconciliation, and renewed tension. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. A border war between the two countries followed from 1998 to 2000. In July 2018, the two governments signed a joint declaration of peace and friendship, raising hopes for lasting stability and cooperation.
Relations have since deteriorated. Points of friction include regional security, Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea, and the armed conflicts in northern Ethiopia. Asseb, Eritrea’s southern Red Sea port, often features in debate over Ethiopia’s sea-access ambitions. In October 2026, Ethiopia accused Eritrea of an “all-out invasion” of its territory. The exchange of accusations raised concerns about regional stability and the risk of wider confrontation in the Horn of Africa.
Against this backdrop, social media posts claiming to show military equipment, troops, or battlefield developments need careful verification. AI-generated or altered images can pass as authentic evidence. They can heighten public anxiety and spread unverified information. Readers should check an image’s original source and publication history before trusting its caption. Responsible sharing and fact-checking matter most during periods of heightened regional tension.
Conclusion
The claim is false. The image shared by “Eritrea Daily” is a digitally altered version of a photo from the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition. The original, published by Zona Militar on July 1, 2026, showed a concept tank for the Italian Army. Eritrean flags and soldiers were added to make it appear to be Eritrean military equipment in Asseb. The image provides no evidence of Eritrean military activity there.
