Fact Check: Did Iran Attack Los Angeles?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A photo captioned "Los Angeles America Attacked by Iran" circulated on Facebook [archive] and Instagram on March 18, 2026. Blazes and black smoke billowing from a facility resembling an industrial tank could be seen in the attached photo.

Another account on Facebook spread a similar narrative. The uploader claimed that Iranian proxies in Mexico launched an attack on a US oil base in Los Angeles. "The latest news is that Iran launched an attack on a US oil  facility in Los Angeles through proxies in Mexico," it wrote.

But is it true that Iran attacked Los Angeles, United States?

FACT CHECK

Tempo verified the content through a reverse image search and various credible sources. The results showed that the photo did not capture an Iranian attack on Los Angeles, but rather a factory fire in Pasadena, Texas.

A Google reverse image search proved the photo was identical to a blaze on March 13, 2026, broadcast on the Fox 26 Houston YouTube channel. The seven-hour live broadcast featured CCTV footage from the LyondellBasell (LYB) chemical plant complex. Visual similarities were evident in the Air Liquide logo and traffic lights in the area.

Fox 26 Houston reported that the fire broke out at the LyondellBasell Bayport Choate site around 9:42 p.m. local time. The Harris County Fire Chief's Office stated that an operational disruption led to the release of flammable materials. The fire was extinguished by 2:00 a.m. with no injuries reported.

Embers of US-Iran Military Conflict

The United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East amid the simmering conflict with Iran. Hundreds of special forces personnel, including Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, are now on standby in the region alongside thousands of Marines and Army airborne troops.

CBS News reports that more than 3,500 additional personnel have arrived in the Middle East. This includes the USS Tripoli, carrying approximately 2,500 Marines, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit. Additionally, approximately 1,500 personnel from the 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed. The total US military presence in the Gulf region now exceeds 50,000—an increase of approximately 10,000 from the previous figure.

From Tehran, the Iranian Ministry of Energy reported mass power outages in the capital and several northern provinces due to US and Israeli attacks. A projectile attack toppled a high-voltage electrical tower in Alborz. The explosion also damaged a substation in the Dowshan Tappeh region, cutting off power to several districts in Tehran and Karaj.

The armed conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, which broke out on February 28, 2026, has claimed thousands of lives. According to Katadata, by the end of March 2026, more than 3,200 people had been killed and tens of thousands more injured. The highest number of casualties occurred in Iran, followed by Lebanon and Israel, as the conflict spread to neighboring countries.

CONCLUSION

Tempo's investigation concludes that the claim of Iran attacking Los Angeles, United States, is false.

TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM

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