The U2 fansites all over sure had no problem believing it.
Bono Says SOE and New Tour on the Way
U2 News: Album noch in Arbeit - neue Tour 2017? - U2tour.de
Bono e Adam confermano il ritorno degli U2 nel 2017 con nuovo album e nuovo tour - U2place, le notizie in italiano sugli U2
These types of brief soundbites just won't get an official U2.com or Oseary confirmation.
I am impressed if they went from "not ready yet/soon, in 6 months" talk from half the band (following "busting our ass to get it out this year" Edge comment from June. good thing Larry didn't say anything. we might have a 4th timeframe from SOE...) to "ready to go this year" in the time of mere weeks.
As for exact tour dates, release date or track listing, there's a reason why they didn't give them -- because they don't have them. When they're far along, we'll know.