Was a new Israeli 'laser gun' captured on camera?
A video allegedly showing the Iron Beam, a new Israeli laser-guided defence system, in action during the Israel-Hamas conflict has been widely shared on social media, which has determined to be fake.
The clip, shared by a verified account on X - formerly Twitter - impersonating a Mossad official, has garnered almost 4 million views at time of publication.
Iron Beam is laser air defence system that destroys targets mid-air but isstill in development and not yet in service.
The weapon is funded by the Israel ministry of defence and could be an upgrade on the conventional Iron Dome system.
The New Iron beam in full display.
— ISRAEL MOSSAD (@MOSSADil)
In reality, the clip of the Iron Beam downing a rocket via a laser was taken from a videowhich was then on Youtube.
The description of the video clearly indicates that the video is a simulation for the Iron Dome, not Iron Beam which is not yet in operation.
It follows a slew of fake news on the Gaza conflict, with Israeli airstrikes killing at least 3,000 Palestinians.
This has not stopped the Mossad-impersonating account from sharing further clips claiming to be of the Iron Beam in action.
More: the iron beam
— ISRAEL MOSSAD (@MOSSADil)
The Iron Beam is said to be a more cost-effective development of the Iron Dome system, which has been used to down missiles fired by Hamas and other Gaza-based armed groups.
According to , one interceptor missile from the Iron Dome can cost at least $50,000, while the Iron Beam could cost as little as $2 per laser firing.
The same account would later share a correction from the Israeli army, stating “according to the IDF, the iron beam is not operational yet”. The original post, containing the fake video clip, has not been taken down yet. This suggests that the Mossad-impersonating account is actively engaged in disinformation.
CORRECTION:
— ISRAEL MOSSAD (@MOSSADil)
According to the IDF, the iron beam is not operational yet.
contacted the account in question for comment but did not receive a response.
' prohibits impersonation of “an existing person, group or organization”. It defines impersonation as “using at least two elements of another identity”. In this case, the Mossad-impersonating account is using the seal of the infamous Israeli national intelligence agency as its avatar, as well as “Mossad” as part of its username.
TNAalso contacted X's press team about whether it received complaints about violations about its policies from the account and if so, whether it took action, but so far received no reply.
The account has since been restricted. According to X, this may be because the account .
Love Jewish lasers
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG)
Space or land
Zap ‘em!
Israel’s purported military superiority is a common talking point among its supporters, as it reportedlyplans a ground offensiveof Gaza.
Republican US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted late on 15 October a clip The Wall Street Journal report, with the caption: "Love Jewish lasers Space or land Zap 'em!"