AI and forensic analysis found this viral video to be likely fake, and Hive Moderation rated it 99.4% AI-generated
The viral post received 4.9 million views worldwide. Photo: Screengrab
Multiple accounts, including pro-Iranian users, are said to have been sharing videos on social media platforms since June 10, 2026, showing Iranian soldiers firing shoulder rockets at U.S. military helicopters, based on past posts. However, the clips are generated by AI.
Despite an April 8 ceasefire, fighting between the United States and Iran has escalated over the past week. The U.S. military said it attacked Iranian radars, drones and air defense facilities in Goruk and Qeshm Islands after the Iranian government allegedly shot down a U.S. military drone in international waters. Meanwhile, Iran claimed to have targeted a US-affiliated air base involved in the attack on a communication tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan province.
On June 11, 2026, the United States launched a second round of airstrikes against Iran after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would “pay a price” for stalled negotiations, and Iran responded with airstrikes targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
At sea, tensions remain high around the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran continuing to challenge commercial shipping and the United States maintaining pressure by blockading Iranian ports.
How it all started
On June 10, a pro-Iranian account based on a previous post shared a video on X showing an Iranian soldier firing a shoulder rocket at a U.S. military helicopter with the following caption:
“Iran used $150 worth of weapons to shoot down a $1 billion U.S. military plane. For the first time, America has met a real enemy.”
This post has received 4.9 million views.
Another pro-Iranian account shared the same video with the caption, “Iran uses $150 weapons to shoot down US military plane worth billions of dollars.” It garnered an audience rating of 2.4m.
Another pro-Iranian user shared the same video with the following caption: “Iran uses $150 worth of weapons to shoot down America’s multi-billion dollar military plane. America met his real father for the first time.” The post received 2m views.
The same video was shared by another pro-Iranian account with a similar caption and received 1.2 million views.
Another pro-Iranian account posted the same video with a similar caption and has been viewed 583,000 times.
The same clip was shared in a similar context on YouTube and Instagram, and X can be seen here , here , here , here , here , here , here , here , and here . A total of 170,000 views were recorded.
methodology
Due to the highly viral nature of this incident and the public’s strong interest in the ongoing conflict, a fact-finding investigation was initiated to determine the veracity of this claim.
Viral videos were examined for visual inconsistencies. A frame-by-frame review revealed that multiple people in the viral video displayed very similar facial features and expressions, especially at 0:01, 0:02, and 0:14 seconds, which are common indicators of AI-generated content.
The viral video was further analyzed using AI detection and forensic tools. Hive Moderation flagged the video as 99.4 percent AI-generated.
Another AI detection tool, TruthScan, flagged the video 75% of the time.
Additionally, another AI detection tool, “Is It AI,” flagged 97 pieces of PC AI-generated content.
A keyword search was then conducted to determine whether any reputable US, Iranian, or international news outlets had reported on such a video showing Iranian soldiers firing rockets from the shoulder at a US military helicopter. However, no such report or video was found.
Further investigation uncovered international media reports about recent US military helicopter incidents in the area.
Reuters published a report on June 9, 2026 entitled “U.S. maritime drone rescues crew of crashed U.S. military helicopter near Hormuz.” A US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near the coast of Oman while on patrol, according to reports. The U.S. military said the plane crashed during a routine mission and the cause of the accident remains under investigation. The report said the two crew members were safely rescued by a U.S. Navy autonomous surface drone and then transferred to a helicopter for evacuation.
The Reuters report did not mention that the plane was shot down by Iran, nor did it suggest that low-cost weapons were used to destroy the U.S. plane. Instead, U.S. authorities described the incident as a helicopter crash and said an investigation into the cause was ongoing.
Several other international media outlets, including Al Jazeera, CNN, and the New York Times, also reported on the incident in a similar context.
Fact check status: false
Claims that a viral video shows Iranian soldiers firing shoulder-fired rockets at U.S. military helicopters are false.
The video is generated by AI.
This fact check first published By iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.
