New Delhi: Hundreds of AI–generated videos depicting women as Iranian soldiers on the battlefield have flooded social media platforms amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, racking up millions of views and raising concerns among disinformation researchers.
The clips, which together have amassed more than 10 million views, portray women in military uniforms operating missiles, standing inside military camps, or performing casual activities such as driving or eating. Many of the accounts sharing these videos appear to have been created only in the past month, according to researchers tracking the trend.
Disinformation researchers say the videos appear designed to promote a narrative that women serve in Iran’s armed forces, something that does not align with the country’s current military policies.
Women aren’t allowed to serve in military combat in Iran, and they must wear the Hijab in public. However, in these videos, many women are seen without the headscarf.
Researchers say the accounts share similar details and show signs of coordination. Many carry similar profile pictures, usernames, and descriptions, often featuring tags such as “FreeIran, Iransoldiers.”
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‘Videos demonstrate a strong Iran’
In several clips, women dressed as soldiers appear talking directly to the camera in English. In one of the videos, a woman soldier can be seen eating a burger while driving a vehicle, and in another, a woman can be seen saying, “Habibi, welcome to Iran”.
Researchers say the language choice suggests that the videos are aimed at an international audience rather than domestic viewers.
“I think these videos demonstrate Iran as strong and having all this military power and treating women fairly,” said McKenzie Sadeghi, principal analyst of Alethea, a US-based technology company.
Social media platform TikTok removed all 52 accounts that were flagged for breaking the rules on spam, fake engagement, and AI-generated content. But even after that, such videos are popping up in the feeds and spreading to other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
On February 28, the US and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury”, targeting more than 500 military and nuclear sites across Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan, and Natanz. The strikes had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Day 1 of the war.
Iran has responded with massive ballistic missile and drone barrages, targeting Israel and US bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. It has also closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked multiple oil tankers, killing several, including a few Indians.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)