A video of an army personnel’s heartening reception upon coming back to his home has gone viral on social media platforms. The clip, spanning over two minutes fifteen seconds, shows the soldier walking towards his family members on a red carpet, saluting and hugging them. Several social media users who shared the video claimed that it shows the soldier’s grand welcome after the recent Operation Sindoor. Newshecker, however, found the video to be old.
The video is being widely shared on X and Facebook with the caption, “Soldier coming back home after the Sindoor operation, What a lovely moment.”
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A Google Lens search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a YouTube post by Brut India, dated August 17, 2023. It featured a shorter version of the viral clip, stating, “This is how a soldier was welcomed by his family after he came back to his village.”
We found a report by The Indian Express, dated August 16, 2023, carrying the screengrabs from the same clip and stating, “…an undated video of a Sikh soldier who was greeted to a grand welcome by his family as he returned home from training is going viral as the country celebrates its 77th Independence Day.” It also shared an X post by Sandeep Thapar, an Army veteran, displaying the full video.
The footage was also posted on X by Sukhbir Singh Badal, the President of Shiromani Akali Dal, on August 15, 2023. “Punjabis like this young boy have always been on the forefront in the service of the nation and made their families and country proud…,” he said in the post.
Multiple other outlets such as this, this and this also reported on the now viral video showing the army soldier’s grand welcome at his home in August 2023.
Video Predates Operation Sindoor
Notably, Operation Sindoor was executed by the Indian Armed Forces in May 2025 following the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people on April 22, 2025. In a release, dated May 7, 2025, the Ministry of Defence stated, “A little while ago, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘OPERATION SINDOOR’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed.”
Also Read: Wayanad Congress Uses Rahul Gandhi’s Portrait To Observe Rajiv Gandhi’s Death Anniversary? No, Viral Photo Is From Old Onam Event
Conclusion
Hence, we find that the viral posts use an old video to falsely show an army personnel’s heartwarming welcome at his home after Operation Sindoor.
Sources
YouTube Video By Brut India, Dated August 17, 2023
Report By The Indian Express, Dated August 16, 2023
X Post By Sukhbir Singh Badal, Dated August 15, 2023
Release By PIB, Dated May 7, 2025
