Claim: A drone targeted a depot of artillery shells in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fact: The video in the claim appeared online on 10 January 2026.
On 27 February a video was posted on an X account with the claim that a drone has targeted a depot of artillery shells in Islamabad.
Another X account similarly claimed that a drone had hit a “nuclear energy center” in Islamabad, stating that those present at the site were killed.
Pak-Afghan “Open War”
The false news is going viral amid an ongoing military escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached a critical breaking point in late February 2026, escalating from diplomatic friction into a state of what Pakistan termed an “open war”. The conflict intensified following a series of selective airstrikes launched by the Pakistan Air Force on 21 and 22 February against militant hideouts in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost.
In a press release, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting confirmed that “intelligence-led precision strikes” targeted seven hideouts of Fitna-al-Khawarij (TTP) along the border. Officials state they have “conclusive evidence” that these militants orchestrated recent cross-border terror attacks. “The operations were reportedly directed by leadership and handlers currently stationed within Afghanistan.”
On 26 February, the Taliban launched what they described as a “large-scale offensive operation” against Pakistani military installations along the border, claiming to have captured 19 posts and killed 55 soldiers. In response, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared a state of “open war” on 27 February and initiated “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” (Righteous Fury), targeting strategic sites in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. Asif stated that the country’s “cup of patience had overflowed” and described the Taliban government as a “master proxy” responsible for the ongoing violence.
As the conflict intensified, both nations traded significant claims of casualties and tactical successes. The Pakistani military reported killing at least 274 Taliban fighters and destroying 73 border posts, while the Taliban government claimed to have successfully used weaponised drones against military targets inside Pakistan. However, the number of casualties on both sides cannot be independently verified at this stage. Meanwhile, international actors, including the United Nations, have called for immediate de-escalation, expressing deep concern over the mounting civilian death toll and the potential for a humanitarian crisis.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched keyframes from the video and found that it was posted as a clip with a video on 10 January on Facebook by two accounts. Both the accounts posted the video with a similar caption. One of them that stated:
“La Maison du marabout malien sinayoko en feu”
[Translation: The house of Maliam marabout Sinayoko is on fire.]
According to a British newspaper, The Telegraph, Karamogo Sinayoko is a Malian “self-proclaimed” healer (referred to as marabout in the caption), who promised to help the country win the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, but was arrested after the team lost 1-0 in the quarter finals.
The video from 10 January is said to be from the time when Sinayoko’s house was targeted.
Soch Fact Check also found that an X account called Islamabad Post was one of the first to claim a drone attack hit Islamabad. The “About this account” tool shows it is based in Central Asia and is connected through the Central Asia Android App.
Moreover, there are no civilian nuclear sites in Islamabad, but only in areas near Islamabad such as Khushab and Rawalpindi.
Based on a reverse search of keyframes from the video in the claim, Soch Fact Check concludes that the video is old and unrelated to the claim. Moreover, the claim of a nuclear centre being hit seems to be false as there are no such civilian nuclear sites in Islamabad, they are only located in areas near Islamabad. No such incident has been reported by credible news outlets.
Virality
The claim of a drone attack on a nuclear center in Islamabad is posted on X here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Conclusion: The video linked to claims of drone attack on a depot of artillery shells or a nuclear center in Islamabad is old. Moreover, there are no civilian nuclear sites in Islamabad, but only in areas close to the capital city.