Fact Check: Viral Video Shows 2016 RIMPAC Sinking of USS Thach — Not a 2026 Iranian Strike

A widely shared video that circulated in early May 2026 was claimed to show Iranian missiles striking U.S. ships near Jask Island. That claim is false: the footage is from a 2016 multinational live-fire exercise (RIMPAC) in which the decommissioned frigate USS Thach was used as a target.

What The Viral Post Claimed

JUST IN🇮🇷🇺🇸🔥 Iran releases first footage that shows Two Iranian missiles hits multiple U.S. military ship or Frigates near Jask Island. 🚨A first DIRECT STRIKE ON U.S. FORCES.

What Really Happened

During the 2016 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, U.S., South Korean and Australian forces conducted a sinking exercise (SINKEX) using the retired USS Thach as a live target. Allied units fired missiles, dropped bombs and launched a torpedo against the ship to evaluate weapon performance against an actual hull. After suffering heavy damage, the Thach was ultimately sunk in deep water in the Pacific Ocean.

Image source: post by @rkmtimes on X.

How We Verified The Footage

Archived recordings from the 2016 RIMPAC clearly show the same impact frames as the clip resurfaced in May 2026. We compared the viral clip and the RIMPAC footage frame by frame: the angles, damage patterns and timing match, confirming the material is training footage rather than evidence of a recent hostile strike.

Bottom Line

There are no verified reports that Iran struck U.S. ships near Jask Island in May 2026. The viral video is misattributed and originates from the 2016 RIMPAC sinking exercise involving the USS Thach. Treat the clip as archived training footage, not proof of current combat activity.

Note: The claim was promoted in a May 4, 2026 post on X by @rkmtimes, which repackaged the older footage as a recent event.