By: Fasil Aregay
Claim: A TikTok video posted on September 1, 2025 (here), alleges that Egypt launched missiles targeting Ethiopia. The video features nighttime footage of Addis Ababa, zooming in on the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s headquarters, accompanied by dramatic missile sound effects. The post, labeled “breaking news,” quickly gained traction, amassing over 535,000 views, 7,775 likes, and hundreds of shares across TikTok and other messaging platforms.
Verdict: False. Egypt did not launch missiles on Ethiopia. The video is digitally manipulated, and the audio was lifted from unrelated footage of a conflict between Israel and Iran.
Investigation and Findings
MultiFact Check (MFC) conducted a thorough investigation using Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques to verify the authenticity of the video (here). Analysts examined the footage for signs of manipulation, including misleading edits and audio overlays. The missile sounds were traced to a TikTok video published on June 14, 2025 (here), depicting clashes in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Iran. This audio was deliberately inserted to create a false narrative and heighten emotional impact (See screenshot below).
MFC also performed a source credibility analysis of the TikTok account that posted the video. Despite its large following, the account has a history of sharing sensational and unverified content. No credible news outlets, local or international, reported any missile strike on Ethiopia. Additionally, an official from the Addis Ababa Police Commission, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that no such attack occurred and labeled the video as fake news.
Following its analysis, MFC verified that the missile sounds were extracted from a TikTok clip depicting conflict in the Middle East, specifically between Israel and Iran, dated June 14, 2025. The footage bears no connection to events involving Ethiopia or Egypt. (See screenshot below).
Context: GERD and Regional Tensions
The timing of the video’s release coincides with Ethiopia’s announcement of the official inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that has long been a flashpoint in regional geopolitics. Egypt, which relies heavily on the Nile for its water supply, views the dam as a direct threat to its national security. In response to the inauguration, Cairo once again raised the issue at the UN Security Council, denouncing Ethiopia’s actions as unilateral and a breach of international law.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, sees GERD as a symbol of national pride and development. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) likened the dam’s completion to the historic Battle of Adwa, framing it as a sovereign triumph. This rhetorical escalation has further strained relations between the two nations, creating fertile ground for misinformation and disinformation to flourish online.
Conclusion
The viral TikTok video falsely claiming an Egyptian missile strike on Ethiopia is a textbook example of digital disinformation. By repurposing unrelated audio and presenting it as evidence, the video exploits regional tensions to mislead the public. In an era of heightened geopolitical sensitivity, especially surrounding the GERD dispute, it is critical to verify sources and resist the spread of sensationalist content. Misinformation not only distorts public understanding but also risks inflaming diplomatic relations in an already volatile region.
