Speaking to the New York Times, ISD’s Moustafa Ayad, Research Chair in Global Islamism & Counter-Terrorism, explained: “It’s flooding the zone with content that projects strength in the wake of attacks on Iran — and it’s similarly distorting the picture of what is actually happening inside the country”. He added that many accounts claiming US casualties far exceeding Pentagon estimates appear to be coordinating or repeating the same messaging. Some of these accounts appear to have been purchased or repurposed for influence operations.

Moustafa also spoke to AFP, warning of fake accounts impersonating senior Iranian leadership: “There is definitely a narrative war unfolding online. […] It is really the speed and scale of these representations that is astounding, driving much of the online confusion of what has been targeted, or casualty counts for instance”.