A social media post falsely attributed to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince was reported by BBC Persian, exposing new vulnerabilities in the international media landscape amid escalating regional conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed terror networks. BBC Persian, in a Telegram channel update, cited an X (formerly Twitter) post purportedly from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urging the international community to stop Israel’s military response against Iranian interests and attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. Investigation revealed not only that the Crown Prince does not maintain an active X account, but also that the post came from a fan-run page with no official connection to the Saudi royal family or government.
This incident is the latest in a series of Iranian-linked disinformation campaigns designed to manipulate perceptions and diplomatic calculations, particularly around Israel’s defensive operations against Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and affiliated forces in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The post—uncritically broadcast by an international news outlet with extensive reach among Farsi speakers—reflects broader efforts to erode Israel’s credibility, exacerbate regional tensions, and pressure Arab states that have engaged in cautious diplomatic engagement with Jerusalem.
Journalistic errors such as these carry significant consequences, especially given the complexity of the information environment during periods of conflict. In the Middle East, Iranian influence operations have increasingly blurred the lines between authentic government messaging and fabricated, agenda-driven content. State and non-state actors hostile to Israel routinely use Western social media platforms and international broadcasters to propel misleading narratives—often exploiting the pressures of real-time news cycles and the amplification potential of digital networks.
Saudi Arabia, which has carefully managed its diplomatic responses amid mounting regional instability, has not issued any official statement matching the alleged X post. Historically, the Kingdom has called for restraint and regional stability but has avoided overt statements that would place it at odds with either Israel or Iran during sensitive negotiations—such as those related to the Abraham Accords or evolving talks on normalization.
The BBC Persian report, now widely criticized by media watchdogs and Israeli analysts, underlines the vital need for accurate sourcing and robust fact-checking. Inaccurate reports can fuel misunderstanding between states, unsettle fragile diplomatic initiatives, and legitimize false narratives constructed by hostile regimes. These errors come at a critical time: since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 massacre—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—Israel faces multi-front hostilities, not only on its borders but also in the battlespace of public opinion.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Israel Katz, has repeatedly called for increased vigilance against hostile disinformation, characterizing online influence campaigns as central pillars of Iran’s strategy to isolate and delegitimize the Jewish state. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, have also expanded efforts to counter false reports and prevent the operational impact of misinformation—particularly when such narratives risk undermining defensive actions against groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In the wake of the BBC Persian incident, digital forensics teams and open-source intelligence analysts traced the origin of the so-called statement to a Saudi fan account. This account, while supportive of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has no affiliation or authority, and its posts are not considered official communication. The rapid spread of the fabricated message, coupled with the imprimatur of a major news outlet, amplified its diplomatic significance and risked sowing discord not only between Saudi Arabia and Israel but also within the broader international community engaging with regional actors.
This case forms just one part of a larger Iranian campaign using media manipulation, cyber operations, and proxy violence to destabilize Israel, shift the regional power balance, and impair normalization between Israel and Sunni Arab countries. These efforts are not only military and kinetic, but also informational—targeting public opinion, policy discussions, and perceptions among Western audiences.
In response, Israeli authorities and their allies are investing in upgraded media monitoring, fact-checking collaborations, and information security initiatives. Technology platforms have been urged to speed up their processes for identifying and flagging fake accounts, deepening cooperation with governments to counteract coordinated online campaigns. News organizations are likewise being called upon to re-examine their editorial safeguards and enhance newsroom training in digital literacy.
The fabrication’s exposure, which unfolded rapidly across Israeli and international media, has prompted renewed calls for transparency and caution in the reporting of conflict-related statements—especially those with significant geopolitical weight. As major broadcasters such as BBC Persian exert influence over millions in the Farsi- and Arabic-speaking world, their responsibility to maintain the highest editorial standards has rarely been so paramount.
For Israel, and for the cause of accurate international understanding, the stakes remain high: the fight against Iranian terror networks is not only waged on the battlefield, but also in the ever-evolving contest of information and truth.
