#Fact Check: Old Photo Misused to Claim Israeli Helicopter Downed in Lebanon!
Executive Summary
A viral image claims that an Israeli helicopter shot down in South Lebanon. This investigation evaluates the possible authenticity of the picture, concluding that it was an old photograph, taken out of context for a more modern setting.
Claims
The viral image circulating online claims to depict an Israeli helicopter recently shot down in South Lebanon during the ongoing conflict between Israel and militant groups in the region.
Factcheck:
Upon Reverse Image Searching, we found a post from 2019 on Arab48.com with the exact viral picture.
Thus, reverse image searches led fact-checkers to the original source of the image, thus putting an end to the false claim.
There are no official reports from the main news agencies and the Israeli Defense Forces that confirm a helicopter shot down in southern Lebanon during the current hostilities.
Conclusion
Cyber Peace Research Team has concluded that the viral image claiming an Israeli helicopter shot down in South Lebanon is misleading and has no relevance to the ongoing news. It is an old photograph which has been widely shared using a different context, fueling the conflict. It is advised to verify claims from credible sources and not spread false narratives.
- Claim: Israeli helicopter recently shot down in South Lebanon
- Claimed On: Facebook
- Fact Check: Misleading, Original Image found by Google Reverse Image Search
Related Blogs
A video purportedly showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering a politically charged warning during a public address has been widely circulated on social media. The clip is being shared with claims that the Prime Minister spoke about the “saffronisation” of the Indian Army and issued a stern message to Bangladesh by invoking India’s role in the 1971 war.
A detailed verification by the CyberPeace Foundation found these claims to be misleading. The investigation revealed that the viral video has been digitally altered, and the statements attributed to the Prime Minister do not appear in the original speech. The misleading narrative appears to have been created by inserting manipulated audio into authentic video footage.
Claim
An X user, “@Pakpulse247,” shared a video on December 26 claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a public gathering, made remarks about the “saffronisation” of the Indian Army and issued a warning to Bangladesh by invoking India’s role in the 1971 war.
The post’s caption alleged that the Prime Minister made these statements during the inauguration of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, suggesting that Bangladesh should not expect support from Pakistan in the event of an Indian offensive and should remember India’s contribution during the 1971 conflict.
The link to the post is provided below, along with a screenshot of the viral claim.
Fact Check:
During the verification process, the Desk carried out a targeted keyword search and located the complete, original version of the video on the official YouTube channel of the Bharatiya Janata Party, uploaded on December 26, 2025. The video description confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the gathering at the inauguration of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow.
A comparison of the visuals showed that the venue, backdrop, and the Prime Minister’s attire were identical to those seen in the viral clip circulating on social media. However, after carefully reviewing the full speech, the Desk found no reference to Pakistan, Bangladesh, or the claims being attributed to him in the viral post.
The link to the original video is provided below, along with a relevant screenshot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9rbzU0m30o
Upon further examination of the search results, the Desk located the official English transcript of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the PM India website. A thorough review of the complete transcript revealed no mention of the statements attributed to him in the viral social media post.
The link to the official transcription is provided below.
On further examination of the search results, the Desk accessed the official English transcript of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech published on the PM India website. A careful review of the complete transcript confirmed that none of the claims made in the viral social media post appear in the official record.
The link to the transcription is provided below.
Building on these findings, the Desk extracted the audio track from the viral video and analysed it using Resemble AI, an audio-detection tool. The analysis flagged the audio as fake, indicating that it had been digitally manipulated.
Conclusion
The CyberPeace Foundation’s research clearly establishes that the viral video claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi made remarks about the saffronisation of the Indian Army and issued warnings to Bangladesh is false and misleading. The full original video and official transcript of the speech contain no such references to Pakistan, Bangladesh, or the 1971 war. Furthermore, audio analysis using AI-detection tools confirms that the voice in the viral clip has been digitally manipulated.
Introduction
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has emphasised the need for an open internet. He stated that no platform can deny content creators access to distribute and monetise content and that large technology companies have begun to play a significant role in the digital evolution. Chandrasekhar emphasised that the government does not want the internet or monetisation to be in the purview of just one or two companies and does not want 120 crore Indians on the internet in 2025 to be catered to by big islands on the internet.
The Voice for Open Internet
India's Minister of State for IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has stated that no technology company or social media platform can deny content creators access to distribute and monetise their content. Speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association Conference in Delhi, Chandrasekhar emphasized that the government does not want the internet or monetization of the internet to be in the hands of just one or two companies. He argued that the government does not like monopoly or duopoly and does not want 120 crore Indians on the Internet in 2025 to be catered to by big islands on the internet.
Chandrasekhar highlighted that large technology companies have begun to exert influence when it comes to the dissemination of content, which has become an area of concern for publishers and content creators. He stated that if any platform finds it necessary to block any content, they need to give reasons or grounds to the creators, stating that the content is violating norms.
As India tries to establish itself as an innovator in the technology sector, a recent corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore was announced by the government in the interim Budget of 2024-25. As big companies continue to tighten their stronghold on the sector, content moderation has become crucial. Under the IT Rules Act, 11 types of categories are unlawful under IT Act and criminal law. Platforms must ensure no user posts content that falls under these categories, take down any such content, and gateway users to either de-platforming or prosecuting. Chandrasekhar believes that the government has to protect the fundamental rights of people and emphasises legislative guardrails to ensure platforms are accountable for the correctness of the content.
Monetizing Content on the Platform
No platform can deny a content creator access to the platform to distribute and monetise it,' Chandrasekhar declared, boldly laying down a gauntlet that defies the prevailing norms. This tenet signals a nascent dawn where creators may envision reaping the rewards borne of their creative endeavours unfettered by platform restrictions.
An increasingly contentious issue that shadows this debate is the moderation of content within the digital realm. In this vast uncharted expanse, the powers that be within these monolithic platforms assume the mantle of vigilance—policing the digital avenues for transgressions against a conscribed code of conduct. Under the stipulations of India's IT Rules Act, for example, platforms are duty-bound to interdict user content that strays into territories encompassing a spectrum of 11 delineated unlawful categories. Violations span the gamut from the infringement of intellectual property rights to the propagation of misinformation—each category necessitating swift and decisive intervention. He raised the alarm against misinformation—a malignant growth fed by the fertile soils of innovation—a phenomenon wherein media reports chillingly suggest that up to half of the information circulating on the internet might be a mere fabrication, a misleading simulacrum of authenticity.
The government's stance, as expounded by Chandrasekhar, pivots on an axis of safeguarding citizens' fundamental rights, compelling digital platforms to shoulder the responsibility of arbiters of truth. 'We are a nation of over 90 crores today, a nation progressing with vigour, yet we find ourselves beset by those who wish us ill,'
Upcoming Digital India Act
Awaiting upon the horizon, India's proposed Digital India Act (DIA), still in its embryonic stage of pre-consultation deliberation, seeks to sculpt these asymmetries into a more balanced form. Chandrasekhar hinted at the potential inclusion within the DIA of regulatory measures that would sculpt the interactions between platforms and the mosaic of content creators who inhabit them. Although specifics await the crucible of public discourse and the formalities of consultation, indications of a maturing framework are palpable.
Conclusion
It is essential that the fable of digital transformation reverberates with the voices of individual creators, the very lifeblood propelling the vibrant heartbeat of the internet's culture. These are the voices that must echo at the centre stage of policy deliberations and legislative assembly halls; these are the visions that must guide us, and these are the rights that we must uphold. As we stand upon the precipice of a nascent digital age, the decisions we forge at this moment will cascade into the morrow and define the internet of our future. This internet must eternally stand as a bastion of freedom, of ceaseless innovation and as a realm of boundless opportunity for every soul that ventures into its infinite expanse with responsible use.
References
- https://www.financialexpress.com/business/brandwagon-no-platform-can-deny-a-content-creator-access-to-distribute-and-monetise-content-says-mos-it-rajeev-chandrasekhar-3386388/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/india/meta-content-monetisation-social-media-it-rules-rajeev-chandrasekhar-9147334/
- https://www.medianama.com/2024/02/223-rajeev-chandrasekhar-content-creators-publishers/
Executive Summary:
A widely circulated claim on social media, including a post from the official X account of Pakistan, alleges that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carried out an airstrike on India, supported by a viral video. However, according to our research, the video used in these posts is actually footage from the video game Arma-3 and has no connection to any real-world military operation. The use of such misleading content contributes to the spread of false narratives about a conflict between India and Pakistan and has the potential to create unnecessary fear and confusion among the public.
Claim:
Viral social media posts, including the official Government of Pakistan X handle, claims that the PAF launched a successful airstrike against Indian military targets. The footage accompanying the claim shows jets firing missiles and explosions on the ground. The video is presented as recent and factual evidence of heightened military tensions.
Fact Check:
As per our research using reverse image search, the videos circulating online that claim to show Pakistan launching an attack on India under the name 'Operation Sindoor' are misleading. There is no credible evidence or reliable reporting to support the existence of any such operation. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also verified that the video being shared is false and misleading. During our research, we also came across footage from the video game Arma-3 on YouTube, which appears to have been repurposed to create the illusion of a real military conflict. This strongly indicates that fictional content is being used to propagate a false narrative. The likely intention behind this misinformation is to spread fear and confusion by portraying a conflict that never actually took place.
Conclusion:
It is true to say that Pakistan is using the widely shared misinformation videos to attack India with false information. There is no reliable evidence to support the claim, and the videos are misleading and irrelevant. Such false information must be stopped right away because it has the potential to cause needless panic. No such operation is occurring, according to authorities and fact-checking groups.
- Claim: Viral social media posts claim PAF attack on India
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
