Israel-Iran Conflict Triggers Surge in AI-Driven Disinformation

Since Israel launched strikes on Iran last week, the internet has been flooded with AI-generated disinformation aimed at manipulating public perception of the conflict. BBC Verify has reviewed dozens of misleading posts, many exaggerating Iran’s military strength or fabricating scenes of destruction in Israel. The most viral fake videos alone have racked up more than 100 million views across various platforms.

Fake Videos and AI Manipulation

Many of these videos rely on artificial intelligence to simulate attacks, destruction, and military might. Some portray Iran’s alleged retaliation with scenes of missiles raining down on Tel Aviv or Israeli fighter jets being shot from the sky—none of which have been verified. In one case, a fake image of multiple missiles striking Tel Aviv amassed 27 million views. Another widely shared video, viewed over 21 million times on TikTok, falsely claimed to show an Israeli F-35 jet being shot down—but was actually taken from a flight simulator video game.

Lisa Kaplan, CEO of threat analysis firm Alethea, said if the videos were real, Iran would have wiped out 15% of Israel’s F-35 fleet—something for which there is no credible evidence. Some of these narratives appear to be pushed by accounts previously linked to Russian influence operations, Kaplan added, noting a shift in strategy toward undermining faith in U.S.-made military hardware like the F-35.

A Two-Way Stream of Misinformation

Disinformation hasn’t been limited to pro-Iranian sources. Pro-Israeli accounts have also shared misleading content—often by recycling old footage from Iranian protests and framing it as evidence of anti-government sentiment or support for Israel.

In one example, a viral AI-generated video claimed to show Iranians chanting "we love Israel" in the streets of Tehran. Meanwhile, as speculation grows about potential U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, fake images of B-2 stealth bombers over Tehran have surfaced across social media. The B-2 has drawn particular attention due to its capability to strike Iran’s underground nuclear sites.

Both Israeli and Iranian official sources have shared misleading content. Iranian state media posted fake images of downed Israeli jets and exaggerated battlefield footage. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were also called out on X (formerly Twitter) for sharing outdated video falsely presented as a current missile strike.

Disinformation at Scale

This conflict marks the first time generative AI has been used at such scale during a war, according to Emmanuelle Saliba, Chief Investigative Officer at the analyst group Get Real. Many of the videos focus on night-time scenes, making verification more difficult. One viral AI clip featured an endless stream of missile trucks emerging from a mountain—until telltale signs of fakery appeared, such as rocks in the footage inexplicably moving on their own.

Verification efforts are complicated further by AI chatbots like Grok on X. In several instances, Grok wrongly insisted AI-generated videos were real, citing reputable media outlets and advising users to “check trusted news for clarity.” X declined to respond to BBC Verify’s request for comment.

Disinformation as a Growth Strategy

Some of the most active disinformation accounts have seen explosive growth. One account, Daily Iran Military, doubled its followers on X in less than a week, rising from 700,000 to 1.4 million. Despite lacking any official affiliation with the Iranian government, it frequently posts AI-generated and misleading content—often under the guise of being a credible military news source.

These accounts often hold verified badges and post at high volume, which helps them appear authoritative and boosts their reach. Many users mistake them for official media channels.

Social Media Platforms Under Scrutiny

Disinformation is spreading across platforms—most prominently on X, TikTok, and Instagram. TikTok has removed several high-traffic fakes after being contacted by BBC Verify and claims it works with independent fact-checkers to combat misinformation. Instagram’s parent company Meta did not comment.

Researchers say a mix of motivations drives this flood of disinformation. Some accounts are likely "engagement farming"—posting shocking or false content to rack up views and earn payouts from social media platforms. Others may have political or ideological goals, including foreign influence campaigns.

Why People Share Disinformation

Matthew Facciani, a misinformation researcher at the University of Notre Dame, said disinformation thrives when conflicts create emotionally charged, binary narratives. “People are more likely to reshare content that aligns with their political identity, especially if it’s sensational,” he explained. “That emotional pull makes it spread faster.”

As the Israel-Iran conflict unfolds, the information war is escalating just as fast—fueled by AI, geopolitical agendas, and the algorithms that reward attention-grabbing content, real or fake.