FACT CHECK: X Post Misleads On Mutiny In Israeli Air Force
A video shared on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, purports there’s been a recent mutiny in the Israeli Air Force, prompting four brigadier generals and 200 pilots to leave military airbases.
🚨BREAKING NEWS 🚨Mutiny in the #israeli Air Force
4 brigadier generals along with 200 pilots left military airbases.
Rumors of a large group of #Zionist soldiers escaping from the battlefield is true, and now there are reports of severe differences within the cabinet itself. pic.twitter.com/inUFOC2Hsg— 🇮🇷22Bahman (@22_bahman) October 22, 2023
Verdict: Misleading
The video originally stems from a 13 News report. Israeli Air Force officers threatened not to report for their reserve duties as a result of a judicial coup in July 2023, according to Haaretz.
Fact Check:
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has told the Israeli government that it is ready to carry out a ground offensive on the Gaza Strip amid the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, according to the Times of Israel. Despite expressing its readiness, the IDF fears the mission may be postponed, the outlet reported.
“BREAKING NEWS Mutiny in the #israeli Air Force 4 brigadier generals along with 200 pilots left military airbases. Rumors of a large group of #Zionist soldiers escaping from the battlefield is true, and now there are reports of severe differences within the cabinet itself,” the video’s caption purports. Photos of what appear to be four military generals can be seen in the video, which has garnered over 1,000 views as of writing.
The claim that a mutiny recently occurred in the Israeli Air Force is not recent, however. The video featured in the X post originally stems from a 13 News report, which indicates over 200 officers announced they would no longer volunteer to serve as Air Force reservists. A photo of the same four generals that appear in the X video is included in the report. The incident, which took place in July 2023, was also covered by Haaretz, which reported the decision was prompted by proposed measures from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would weaken “the judicial system.”
Israeli Air Force officers initially threatened to stop flying over the government’s proposed judicial overhaul back in March 2023, according to the Times of Israel.
Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting a recent mutiny had taken place within the Israeli Air Force. In addition, the claim neither appears on the IDF’s website nor its verified social media accounts. (RELATED: Post Claims To Show Palestinians Bombed While Getting Water)
Check Your Fact has contacted the IDF for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
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