Last updated on September 4th, 2025
Editor’s Note
In June 2025, we published a social media post debunking the photo showing the Israeli fighter being shot down by Iran’s army, which is AI-generated. That initial fact-check has now been consolidated and expanded into this comprehensive report.
Claim: On June 14, 2025, an X user using the name “IRAN WATCH” posted a picture claiming that an F-35 fighter jet of Israel was shot down by the Iranian air defenses.
Fact check:
1. A reverse image search finds the picture was first published in this post.
2. Compared with the real F-35, the jet shown in the picture has many differences.
The vertical tail in the picture is reversed: the vertical tail of a normal F-35 fighter jet is tilted backwards, but the tail seen on the wreckage in the picture is tilted forward.
The emblems of Israeli military aircraft are usually painted in six different positions of the fuselage – the upper and lower surfaces of each wing and the sides of the fuselage. The squadron’s mark is usually painted on the tail. However, in the picture, there is an emblem at the bottom of the plane, which is unusual.
3. AI-detection result: The picture was flagged as 87.9 percent likely to be Al-generated (Hive Moderation).
Verdict: AI-generated
Have a questionable video or claim? Submit it to Fact Hunter’s investigation team at [therealfacthunter@outlook.com].
Fact Checker: Chen Zhouyi
