A “B-2 stealth bomber seen over New York” means “Hezbollah may declare war on Israel.”
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A stealth bomber recently spotted in New York is unrelated to Israel, contrary to online claims
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- A B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber flew over Ulster County, New York, on Nov. 2, but it was related to a football game — not to war in the Middle East.
A recent TikTok post suggests that a bomber aircraft spotted in New York is evidence that the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah will attack Israel.
"Alert," text in the November video says. "B-2 stealth bomber seen over New York" and "Hezbollah may declare war on Israel tomm," using an abbreviation for "tomorrow."
TikTok identified this video as part of its efforts to counter inauthentic, misleading or false content. (Read more about PolitiFact's partnership with TikTok.)
It’s true that a B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber was spotted flying Nov. 2 in Ulster County, New York, as reported by the Daily Freeman, a Kingston, New York, newspaper. But Francis J. DeMaro Jr., a spokesperson for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, told the paper that the B-2 flyover was part of a training mission held as part of a spirit week related to the Army versus Air Force football game.
"It’s considered a Spirit so in the spirit of the football game, the Air Force shows its strength by flying aircraft over the Academy," DeMaro said.
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West Point wrote about the flyover in a Nov. 2 Facebook post, making clear it was connected to the football game and not to Israel.
The Freeman also reported that West Point warned about the flyover in an Oct. 17 press release, saying that in preparation for the game, the Army had begun "their traditional flyovers above the skies of the West Point."
We rate claims the flyover is related to Hezbollah and Israel Pants on Fire!
Correction, Nov. 13, 2023: In an earlier version of this story, we misidentified the partnership through which this claim was identified. It has been updated.
Our Sources
TikTok post, visited Nov. 10, 2023
West Point Facebook post, Nov. 2, 2023
The Daily Freeman, Stealth bomber on ‘West Point flyover’ was seen by Ulster residents, authorities confirm, Nov. 3, 2023
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A stealth bomber recently spotted in New York is unrelated to Israel, contrary to online claims
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