No, Reuters did not report that Israel is going to 'attack Lebanon within 48 hours'

What’s the claim?

Since June 22, 2024, a claim has been consistently surfacing on various social media platforms. It purportedly cites a Reuters report that states, "Israel will attack Lebanon within the next 48 hours." 

This claim has quickly spread across platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), amplifying amid heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and sparking speculation and concern among users.

Screenshot of claims made online. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, Reuters has explicitly denied publishing any such report between June 22 and June 24, 2024, stating that claims of an imminent Israeli attack on Lebanon are false and unsupported by their reporting.

What we found

In response to the viral misinformation, Reuters issued a statement on June 22, 2024, refuting the alleged report and addressing the misinformation circulating online. A Reuters spokesperson clarified, "Any claims that Reuters reported Israel will attack Lebanon within the next 48 hours are false. Reuters did not publish such information."

Additionally, the Reuters Press Team reiterated this denial on social media (archived here), emphasizing that no such report exists in their coverage.

A timeline of Reuters reports on Israel-Lebanon 

Following the widespread dissemination of this claim on June 22, 2024, Logically Facts undertook a comprehensive review of all Reuters reports pertaining to Israel and Lebanon from June 20 to June 23, 2024. During this period, Reuters published only four such reports.

A report dated June 20, 2024, examines the apprehensions of Lebanese citizens, including figures like product designer Tara Tabet and businessman Sami Masri, amid heightened tensions sparked by Hezbollah's threats against Israel and Cyprus. 

On June 21, 2024, Reuters released a report highlighting escalating tensions due to missile interceptions over northern Israel and airstrikes in southern Lebanon, raising fears of the Gaza conflict expanding into a broader regional war. The report also discusses the U.S. stance on the mounting tensions in the region. Notably, this report did not include any reporting of 'an imminent Israeli attack on Lebanon within 48 hours.'

A June 22, 2024, report focused on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' efforts to address tensions between Israel and Lebanon, emphasizing the active role of U.N. peacekeepers in reducing tensions and preventing misjudgments on the ground.

The latest Reuters report on Israel and Lebanon, published on June 23, 2024, covered Israeli military activities in Lebanon and featured insights from a United States Air Force general. However, it did not indicate any intent by Israel to initiate an attack on Lebanon within the next 48 hours.

The verdict

A thorough review of Reuters' published content and ongoing coverage confirms that there is no basis for the viral claim alleging an imminent Israeli attack on Lebanon.