Was a new Israeli 'laser gun' captured on camera?
Was a new Israeli 'laser gun' captured on camera?
A video depicting an Iron Beam weapons system in action has been widely shared on social media. The thread leads back to a Mossad-impersonating account.
3 min read
Iron Dome is Israel's missile defence system [Getty]
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 The New Arab 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 is still 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. pic.twitter.com/XtnqDoAmUi
— ISRAEL MOSSAD (@MOSSADil) October 15, 2023
In reality, the clip of the Iron Beam downing a rocket via a laser was taken from a video simulation game Arma 3 which was then shared 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 pic.twitter.com/wb1oEctU7K
— ISRAEL MOSSAD (@MOSSADil) October 15, 2023
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 The Wall Street Journal, 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) October 15, 2023
According to the IDF, the iron beam is not operational yet.
The New Arab contacted the account in question for comment but did not receive a response.
X's misleading and deceptive identities policy 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.
TNA also 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 has violated the platform's policies.
Love Jewish lasers
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 15, 2023
Space or land
Zap ‘em! pic.twitter.com/VrgIfUMDdT
Israel’s purported military superiority is a common talking point among its supporters, as it reportedly plans a ground offensive of 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!"
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