"Nuclear strike" on Tel Aviv caused a scandal in France (PHOTO)

French TV channel RMC Découverte aired a documentary featuring a computer simulation of a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv. Researcher Eloïse Fayet noticed this on September 17. The channel apologized, attributing the error to incorrect labeling in a stock photo library, removed the film, and suspended its broadcast.

French TV channel RMC Découverte found itself at the center of a scandal after airing a documentary that showed a computer simulation of a nuclear strike on Tel Aviv. In the simulation, a French fighter jet launched a missile attack on the Israeli city. The episode was part of the film "New Rafale, Drones and Cannons: The Revolution of French Weapons," which focused on developments in France's defense industry. The film aired on September 1 and discussed the prospective ASN4G nuclear missile for Rafale F5 fighters. Researcher Eloïse Fayet from the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) publicly questioned the channel on September 17 about why Israeli territory was chosen as the target. The next day, RMC Découverte apologized, explaining that the image of Tel Aviv appeared due to an error in a professional stock photo library where the city was incorrectly labeled. The film was removed from all platforms and its broadcast was suspended. Director Alex Gary expressed shock, stating that the image caption did not indicate it was a real city. The ASN4G missile is a real project—in June, the General Directorate for Armaments signed an agreement with MBDA for its development, and from 2035 it is expected to replace the ASMPA in France's nuclear forces.