Foreign Influence Detected in Anti-Israel Social Media Campaign During Operation Epic Fury

A comprehensive analysis of social media activity during the initial phase of Operation Epic Fury reveals that much of the online criticism against the military action may have originated from outside the United States, despite appearing to represent American public opinion.

According to research conducted by Argyle Consulting Group, a private intelligence and data analysis firm, 60% of the most viral posts on X mentioning “Iran” during the operation’s first week came from accounts based outside the United States, though many presented themselves as American voices.

“These aren’t just random opinions,” explained Eran Vasker, CEO and co-founder of Argyle Consulting Group. “What we’re seeing is discourse that looks American — written in English, using U.S. political language — but is actually coming from outside the country… Almost impossible for a regular user to detect.” Vasker noted that these accounts “look very American” and skillfully mirror domestic political language and debates.

The analysis examined 100 highly viral X posts — each with more than 10,000 shares — between February 28 and March 7. In total, posts containing the word “Iran” generated 98 million posts, 696.4 million interactions, and an estimated 1.5 trillion potential views, making it one of the largest online information events on record.

Perhaps most striking, the research found that foreign accounts alone generated 155.6 million views, compared to 93.4 million from U.S.-based accounts, outpacing American users by more than 60 million views in the sample. Every single foreign-based post in the dataset expressed negative sentiment toward the operation, while supportive content came exclusively from U.S.-based users.

The researchers identified recurring narratives pushed by foreign-based accounts, including claims that the operation was a “betrayal of MAGA,” “highly unpopular with the American people,” and carried out “on behalf of Israel.”

JP Castellanos, Binary Defense director of threat intelligence and a former member of U.S. Central Command’s Active Cyber Defense Team, noted that much of the activity focuses on Israel and combines disruptive tactics with strategic messaging. “About 42% of the attacks that we’re seeing or the claims that we’re seeing online are directed toward Israel,” Castellanos said.

He also highlighted sophisticated disinformation tactics, including doxxing campaigns and AI-generated videos “trying to basically shape the information space.” Castellanos emphasized the challenge of distinguishing genuine cyber incidents from inflated online claims made by hacktivist groups seeking attention.

Among the most influential voices driving engagement, seven of the top 10 accounts were based outside the United States, including accounts linked to Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and South Asia.

Cybersecurity researchers told Fox News Digital that one of the most prominent groups to emerge during the conflict is Handala, an Iran-linked hacking operation that has claimed responsibility for attacks on both U.S. and Israeli targets. U.S. authorities and cybersecurity firms have linked Handala to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, describing it as part of a broader effort combining cyberattacks with psychological and information operations.

The researchers indicated that Handala is part of a wider network of Iran-aligned and pro-Russian hacktivist groups that have mobilized since the start of the conflict, blending disruptive cyber activity with narrative-shaping campaigns online.

The scale, consistency, and geographic spread of the messaging point to a coordinated effort rather than organic global debate, according to the researchers. This online narrative campaign is unfolding alongside broader activity by pro-Iranian and aligned groups across the digital landscape.

Fox News Digital reached out to X multiple times, providing a list of the accounts in question per their request, but has not yet received a response.