Israel says Iran is running fake-account campaign to spread fear online

Israel's Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry says it has uncovered an Iranian campaign using dozens of accounts that impersonate Israelis and global news outlets. According to a research division report, the effort began during the operations known as "Rage of the Lion" and "With the Lion," then intensified as the Iranian regime used multiple tools to frighten Israelis and drive a de-moralization campaign in Israel and abroad.

The ministry says the network spreads false claims that greatly inflate the death toll in Israel, circulates images of destruction, alleges the deaths of senior figures and professionals, and claims there is a broad leadership crisis. It also pushes messages about fear, people fleeing to shelters, mass emigration from Israel, and, in some posts, major damage to the U.S. military. The fake profiles have gained hundreds of thousands of followers, millions of views, and extensive engagement, and some were cited by media outlets worldwide within days. One account called "Yemenite Jew" reportedly got 1 million views, 2,200 shares, and 6,300 comments, while another, "Yitzhak A-Hamumi," reached 4.4 million views, 6,900 shares, and 6,300 comments.

The report says much of the activity is centered on X because of weaker verification and moderation, while Facebook and Instagram are less affected due to tighter identity controls. It also says the operation is conducted in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, and uses AI to create fake visuals of destroyed infrastructure and casualties that did not happen. The ministry says the campaign relies on impersonation, coordinated cross-posting, human operators rather than autonomous bots, and fake news brands such as America News to boost credibility.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said the report shows an Iranian effort to influence Israeli public opinion by entering internal online discourse, using fake Israeli identities to undermine trust, deepen social divisions, and spread de-moralization. He said the public should stay alert and responsible with information they consume and share, and added that the material has been passed to the relevant security authorities for further handling. Ministry Director-General Avi Cohen Sklly said the current Iranian effort is aimed not only at global delegitimization of Israel, but at manipulating the Israeli conversation itself to weaken and divide the country from within.