Israel
Did the Iranians release footage of their soldiers being blown up by Israeli strikes – and if so, why?
A video that went viral on social media was mostly AI-generated, but not all of it, an expert tells the JC
December 3, 2025 12:22
A video that went viral on social media was mostly AI-generated, but not all of it, an expert tells the JC
December 3, 2025 12:22A string of clips apparently showing CCTV footage of Iranian soldiers getting blown up by Israeli air strikes was partially generated by AI – but not all of it, an expert on the country has told the JC.
The footage that went viral on social media over the past few days was alleged to show Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers inside command centres at their computers before being hit terrifying explosions which then black out the view of the camera.
Kasra Aarabi, Director of IRGC Research, United Against Nuclear Iran, said that most of the clips in the sequence were AI-generated, but one was real.
The genuine clip, he said, was the one seen in playing slow motion and had been shot at the Tabriz air defence base, which is not an IRGC station but is run by the Artesh, the regular Iranian army.
BREAKING: The Islamist regime in Iran has released videos showing its IRGC and other military sites being destroyed by Israel during the 12-day war. The footage has gone viral as Iranians mock and ridicule the regime for declaring “victory” while broadcasting its own defeat. pic.twitter.com/SL6zgYSscD
— Shayan News (@ShayanNews) December 1, 2025
Aarabi said: "It was released in a documentary/interview with an Artesh commander, who was speaking about the bravery and commitment of the members of the Artesh.
"The video is from Tabriz Artesh air defence system base. The commander says even though the soldiers knew they were about to be killed, they stayed in their base, rather than run away, so they could carry out a counter strike.
"The reason they’re releasing it is to underscore Artesh’s commitment to the regime – the idea that they will give their lives for the Islamic republic willingly.”
One anti-regime account based in the US, Shayan News, commented: "Iranians [are mocking] and [ridiculing] the regime for declaring 'victory' while broadcasting its own defeat."
Aarabi added that the publication of the Artesh clip by pro-regime news agency SNN TV may have had a political motive.
"People are calling on Artesh to side with them and [there are] rumours that dissent is present among the low ranks of the Artesh," he said.
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