The recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, sparked by an Israeli air raid on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, became a battleground for both military and digital warfare. Fact Hunter's investigation reveals how AI-generated content and recycled footage fueled misinformation, complicating global understanding of the crisis.
Hybrid Analysis: AI Meets Human Insight
By analyzing over 10,000 social media comments and cross-referencing data with fact-checking tools, Fact Hunter identified a pattern of manipulated narratives. Large language models flagged emerging claims, which human analysts then verified—a process exposing stark gaps between reality and viral falsehoods.
Phase 1: Weaponized Context
Early misinformation focused on misrepresenting military intentions. A manipulated clip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech, falsely edited to include threats against Pakistan, exemplified how authentic footage was repurposed to inflame tensions. Initial public discussions remained neutral, with 65% of analyzed comments focused on factual updates.
Phase 2: Fabricated Combat Dramas
As hostilities escalated, so did disinformation tactics:
Israel's Narrative: Old videos from prior conflicts and even Russia-Ukraine war footage were falsely presented as current attacks, confirmed by DW and BBC Verify.
Iran's Retaliation: A 2018 U.S. military jet crash video resurfaced as "proof" of a downed Israeli F-35. AI-generated content, including a fabricated Tel Aviv attack video, dominated this phase.
Fact Hunter's verification methods—reverse image searches, media archives, and airspace records—proved critical in debunking these claims.
Why It Matters
With 42% of conflict-related posts containing unverified claims, the report underscores the urgent need for robust fact-checking frameworks in modern warfare. As AI tools grow more accessible, distinguishing truth from fabrication becomes both harder and more vital for policymakers and the public alike.
