As the ongoing conflict in West Asia continues to spill beyond battlefields into the digital space, a series of war-related videos circulating online has led to arrests and heightened security concerns
across Iran and parts of the Gulf.
According to a New York Times report, Iranian authorities have intensified a crackdown on people accused of sharing sensitive or misleading content related to the war. Officials claim such content could undermine national security or aid adversaries. Hundreds have been detained in recent days as part of a broader effort to control information flow during the conflict.
Earlier, authorities in Dubai shared a video on social media warning, “Threats do not always come from outside. Some may live among us,” it said. In a video message, authorities featured mysterious figures lurking around the city, the largest in the UAE. “Conspiring in the shadows — hiding behind screens,” the voice said.
Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, have also tightened surveillance and taken action against individuals accused of spreading misinformation or content linked to the conflict. Regional governments are increasingly wary of how viral videos could trigger panic or affect internal stability and peace.
With the war underway, governments across the region appear to be treating digital content as a parallel front — one that could influence public sentiment, national security, and the course of the conflict itself.
Iran’s Digital Warfare Playbook Raises Alarm In India
Indian intelligence agencies have raised concerns over a coordinated global influence operation allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warning that its social media ecosystem poses a “live hybrid threat” with implications for both domestic stability and strategic partnerships.
According to top intelligence sources, the network, operating through the IRGC-affiliated Basij Cyberspace Organisation, is not currently focused on radicalisation within India. Instead, it is attempting to shape a broader global narrative by leveraging misinformation, AI-generated content, and coordinated amplification strategies.
At the centre of the campaign is what cybersecurity analysts describe as the “Iranian Influence Operation Team,” a flexible and layered digital network that has recently weaponised a false narrative around the alleged death of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Intelligence inputs suggest that the hoax has been deliberately evolved, from claims of death to suggestions of injury or concealment, to maintain traction even when debunked.
