No, Israel's Nevatim Air Base hasn't been 'completely destroyed' | Fact check

Chris Mueller, USA TODAY
·2 min read

The claim: Israel's Nevatim Air Base 'completely destroyed' in Iran attack

An April 13 Instagram post (direct link, archive link) claims an Israeli military base was wiped out by the Iranian offensive.

"BREAKING NEWS," the post says. "Hebrew media: Nevatim military airport completely destroyed."

The post was liked more than 21,000 times in five days.

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Our rating: False

While accounts of the damage at Nevatim Air Base following Iran's missile and drone attack vary, there is no evidence it was destroyed. A video shared by Israel's military shows jets still landing at the base after the attack.

IDF says damage to the air base was minor

The post coincided with Iran's April 13 attack against Israel, which involved a wave of drones and missiles. Iran launched the assault after a suspected Israeli airstrike against its embassy in Syria killed seven Iranian military officers on April 1. Israel's air defense systems, along with a U.S.-led coalition of warplanes and naval assets, intercepted many of the drones and missiles.

No credible news reports, however, support the claim that Israel's Nevatim Airbase was "completely destroyed" in the attack, as the post claims. There are differing accounts of the damage, but no evidence to suggest destruction.

Fact check: Video predates Iran attack on Israel, shows rockets from Lebanon

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told The Times of Israel that four missiles struck the base, which is less than 50 miles from Gaza in Israel’s Negev desert. One missile landed near a runway, slightly damaging a taxiway, while another hit close to a building under construction, causing minor damage, Hagari said. Two struck open areas of the base, he said.

Similarly, Hagari told The Jerusalem Post that the base sustained only minor damage in the attack.

The IDF posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, of fighter jets still landing on a runway at the base following Iran's attack.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Nevatim Air Base destroyed in Iran attack | Fact check