Social media bombarded by fake AI videos of Israel-Iran conflict
Kate Atkinson
June 20, 2025
WHAT WAS CLAIMED
A video shows damage caused by an Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport.
OUR VERDICT
False. The video was created using artificial intelligence.
AAP FactCheck – Social media users are employing artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fake images and videos of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Conflict between the two nations broke out after Israel launched a surprise attack on June 13 that targeted Iranian cities, nuclear sites and the nation’s top military command.
Iran responded with retaliatory air strikes, launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel.
Among the fake videos circulating on social media are some that claim to show damage to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport from an Iranian missile strike.
AAP FactCheck identified several different versions shared on Facebook1, Instagram2, Threads 3and X4.
One clip5 appears to show damage to the airport’s terminal as planes sit on the runway.
A reverse image search reveals the video was posted on Instagram6 by user @3amelyon7 on May 27, 2025.
The account frequently posts AI-generated content and contains the description “resisting artificial intelligence”.
Ben Gurion airport is closed “until further notice”8, and there is no evidence it has experienced the level of damage depicted in the videos.
Iran’s state media Mehr 9reported it was targeted by an Iranian missile strike, but this has not been verified by other sources.
Other videos10 published by @3amelyon have also been shared online as if they are real.
They depict damaged fighter jets11 outside a hangar and destroyed skyscrapers.12
All the videos show clear signs of AI, including illegible writing and cars disappearing or morphing into each other.
Social media users are also sharing a video 13that claims to show an Iranian missile hitting the roof of an apartment building in Bat Yam.
However, the logo of Google’s AI video generator Veo 14is visible in the bottom right corner.
The fake video references credible news reports15 of a missile striking an apartment building in the southern Tel Aviv town.
AAP FactCheck performed a reverse image search on a recording of the strike shared on X by Israeli-based misinformation researcher Tal Hagin16.
This showed the strike occurred near Defenders Square monument17 which appears to match the location of the building shown in BBC footage18 of the strike’s aftermath in Bat Yam19.
Mr Hagin20 also pointed to drone footage posted by Israeli public broadcaster Kan News21, which shows the building’s roof sustained minimal damage, while one side section was impacted.
Other social media users22 have shared the fake video with the Veo watermark cropped out.
Another video circulating online 23claims to show a burning building, with explosions of fire streaming from its roof. Text across the video says “Israel today update”.
Signs it was created using AI include the Israeli flag suspended mid-air.
AI-generated videos depicting destruction in Israel and Iran are also being shared on YouTube and TikTok.
A June 14 video24, claims to show “Iran today”, including fake rays emanating from a cooling tower in the distance, while emergency workers standing on the edge of a crater disappear.
A similar video published on June 16 25supposedly depicts damage to an Israeli street, but people move unnaturally and turn into shadows.
Another post26 on Facebook claims to show the remains of an Israeli F-35 fighter jet shot down by Iran.
However, the symbol on the jet’s wing does not match official photos of Israeli F-35 jets,27 which show a Star of David surrounded by a white circle.
AAP FactCheck has debunked other false claims about the Israel-Iran conflict, including 2003 footage of Baghdad28 being passed off as current events in Tel Aviv.
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network29. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads30, X, BlueSky31, TikTok32 and YouTube33. (AAP)
