Since the beginning of the Israeli attack on nuclear facilities, military sites, and commanders inside Iran on 13 June 2025, and the subsequent military escalation and Iranian response with hundreds of missiles and drones, social media users have circulated a series of false images attributed to this escalation. We present the most prominent facts:
First: A video clip of a barrage of missiles hitting targets, accompanied by the following description: “The moment the second barrage of Iranian missiles fell in Tel Aviv.”
Kashif verified the video via Google Images search and found that it was old and incorrectly linked to the recent Iranian bombing. It was circulated on 1 October 2024, claiming that it depicted the then Iranian bombing, not the recent one.
Second: A photo of a huge fire in surrounding building, with the claim that it was caused by Iranian missiles targeting Israel.
Upon closer examination of the circulated image, it was found to be fake and generated by artificial intelligence. The image shows a number of telltale signs of this, including: thick smoke that appears polished and flat, flames that appear exaggerated and inconsistent with the light reflecting off the surrounding buildings, and distortions in the building’s architecture, such as overlapping edges and illogical angles.
Kashif also examined AI-generated image scanning tools, including the Hive Moderation tool, which showed that the image was 31.9% AI-generated.
Third: A video clip of extensive destruction and fires was attached, accompanied by the following claim: “The situation in Tel Aviv is tragic… The damage is very extensive, and there is a cover-up and directives within Israel not to publicize the damage from the Iranian strike.”
Kashif found that the video was originally posted on 1 February 2025, claiming to show a plane crash in Philadelphia, USA, and had no connection to the recent Iranian airstrikes. The TikTok account “mosafsaf” posted the video on 1 February 2025, with the following description: “Another plane crashes on Cotman Street, northeast Philadelphia.”
On 31 January 2025, media outlets reported the crash of a Learjet 55 medical air ambulance in Philadelphia, USA. The incident resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including four crew members, a sick child, and his companion.
Fourth: A photo of a pilot who was allegedly Israeli, named “Sara Ahronot,” who was arrested in Iran after her plane crashed.
Kashif has determined that the photo is old and unrelated to the military escalation between Israel and Iran. “Dialogo Américas ” website published it on 23 December 2021, and explained that it shows First Lieutenant Daniela Figueroa Schulz of the Chilean Navy.
While Iranian media reported that Iranian air defenses shot down two Israeli fighter jets and captured one of the pilots, an Israeli military spokesman denied that an Israeli fighter jet had been shot down and the pilot captured.
Fifth: A video clip of debris in the sky was circulated, claiming it was from Iranian missiles targeting the occupation.
Kashif found that the video shows a SpaceX spacecraft crashing and has no connection to the recent Iranian missile attack. It was posted on 17 January 2025, by the “earthbestshots” Instagram account, which accompanied it with the following description: “SpaceX’s Starship exploded in the atmosphere. Here are its remains as they returned to Earth!”
Sixth: A video clip showing the destruction of multiple buildings, with their rubble widely scattered, with the claim that it was in Tel Aviv as a result of Iranian bombing. The clip was accompanied by the following text: “Not Gaza, but Tel Aviv.”
Kashif verified the video clip by searching with the “Invid” tool, and found that it is old and produced using artificial intelligence. It was posted by the “3amelyonn account on TikTok on 28 May 2025, before the start of the military escalation between the occupation and Iran on 13 June 2025.
Upon closer examination of the video, Kashif noted a number of signs indicating that it was produced by artificial intelligence, including the symmetrical shapes of the building debris and the unnatural shape of the water tanks on the roofs. The observatory also tracked the “3amelyonn” account and found that the clips it posts were generated by artificial intelligence. Kashif Observatory identifies itself as “AI Resistant.”
Seventh, a video clip of an explosion in the sky, accompanied by the following description: “The moment an F-35 was shot down by Iranian air defense systems.”
Kashif found that the video shows an interception of a drone in the Galilee Finger. Channel 12 published it on its X account on 14 June 2025, accompanied by the following description: “Dramatic documentation: This is how the drone was intercepted in the Galilee Finger,” and clarified that it was filmed by Tomer Negli.
It was also posted by Itai Blumenthal, the military correspondent for Channel 11, on his X account on the same date, 14 June 2025, accompanied by the following description: “Exceptional documentation of the interception of an Iranian drone this morning in the north.”
Al Jazeera posted the clip on its YouTube channel the same day, accompanied by the following title: “Lebanon: Israeli army intercepts drone in the Galilee Panhandle.” In the video description, it explained that its correspondent “reported the explosion of three Israeli interceptor missiles in the airspace of southern Lebanon.”
Looking closely at the original video, a voice in Hebrew can be heard saying, “Here is the drone.”
Eighth: A photo of a huge explosion, with the claim that it was an Iranian bombing of Haifa.
Kashif found that the image was published by a number of media outlets, including Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya TV, in October 2024. It was filmed by Reuters and documents an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Ninth: A video clip of a massive explosion accompanied by the following claim: “A massive Iranian bomb fell, destroying Israeli weapons depots in Tel Aviv last night.”
Kashif has determined that the video dates back to explosions that occurred in an industrial zone in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin in 2015, and is unrelated to the military escalation between Israel and Iran.
The video was circulated in a report published by The Guardian on 15 August 2015, stating that explosions occurred in the Chinese coastal city of Tianjin on Wednesday, 14 August 2015, at a site storing toxic chemicals and gas, killing at least 55 people, including firefighters. The report added that the explosions were so massive they were visible from space by satellites.
Tenth: A video clip of towers before and after they were destroyed, with the claim that they were from Tel Aviv as a result of Iranian bombing.
Kashif found that the first part of the video was an aerial shot from Tel Aviv, published by Al Jazeera English on YouTube on 4 December 2014. The second part, which shows extensive destruction, was produced by artificial intelligence.
The video was posted on Instagram on 14 June 2025, by the “3amelyon” account, which specializes in publishing videos generated using artificial intelligence. It describes itself as “resisting artificial intelligence,” and its logo appears in the top left corner of the circulating video.
Upon closer examination of the video, several signs emerge indicating that it was produced by artificial intelligence, including the shape of the destruction inflicted on the towers, the shape and movement of the smoke, and the movement of cars near the towers. The fourth tower is close to the remaining third towers, which is inconsistent with the original video.
Eleven: A video showing a group of people inside a dumpster, accompanied by the following description: “Circular: Settlers hiding inside a dumpster for fear of Iranian missiles.”
Kashif found that the video clip is old and has no connection to the military escalation between Israel and Iran. It was published by a group of news agencies and platforms, including Shehab News Agency and Sputnik News Agency, on 7 October 2023. The news agencies explained that it dates back to “a number of Israeli settlers resorting to hiding in garbage containers after Hamas elements stormed the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip.”
For the fourth consecutive day, the military escalation between Iran and the Israeli occupation, which began on 13 June 2025, continues. Israel launched intensive raids as part of an operation dubbed “Rising Lion,” targeting nuclear facilities, sites, and military leaders inside Iran. In response, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones targeting areas deep within the occupied territories. This escalation resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, while confrontations and mutual threats continue, amid international warnings of an escalation of the war.
