Rumours claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was killed in an Iranian airstrike have circulated widely on social media, prompting confusion and speculation online.

Videos of missile strikes and explosions have been widely shared across social platforms, with some users suggesting that the Israeli leader may have died during a recent escalation in the region. Similar rumours have also surfaced about Netanyahu’s brother, Iddo Netanyahu and Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alleging that they too were killed in airstrikes.

Social media posts fuel speculation

Several posts online linked dramatic visuals of airstrikes to unverified claims about Netanyahu’s death. Some users questioned whether Iranian strikes had targeted the Israeli leadership.

One user asked whether reports of Netanyahu being killed in an Iranian strike were true while sharing footage of missile attacks. "Sources indicate that Netanyahu died in an Iranian airstrike. Is this true news?", wrote a user.

Another post claimed that media censorship inside Israel was preventing confirmation of the alleged incident and urged people to repost the video. "This is what's happening inside the entity. But, there is severe Arab-Hebrew media censorship. And, for this reason, we ask you to repost, please, oh man, God expose the Arab Zionists.. The operation is ongoing tonight", a user posted.

None of these claims was supported by verified information.

Also Read | US defence chief calls March 10 strikes ‘most intense’ of Operation Epic Fury as attacks on Iran escalate

Iranian media speculation

The rumours appear to have originated from speculation in Iranian state-linked media. According to reports from Tasnim News Agency, Netanyahu might have been injured or killed in retaliatory strikes. The report cited Hebrew-language sources while noting that the claims had not been confirmed.

The speculation gained traction partly because Netanyahu had not appeared in video messages for several days. Reports noted that no new photos of the prime minister had been released for nearly four days, while recent communications attributed to him were issued only in text form.

Tasnim also mentioned reports that security around Netanyahu’s residence was tightened on March 8 due to concerns over possible drone attacks.

The Iranian outlet further pointed to a phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Netanyahu. According to the report, the French presidency released a text summary of the conversation without specifying the date or sharing audio or video confirmation.

Also Read | Will the US seize Hormuz? Trump warns Iran over alleged naval mines

Israel rejects claims

Israeli officials have strongly rejected the rumours. According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s office described the claims circulating in Iranian media as “fake news”.

The report said Netanyahu recently visited the site of a missile strike in Beit Shemesh and addressed the public, indicating he was active despite the speculation online.

It also cited earlier statements from Iran’s Fars news agency claiming that Iranian Khaibar missiles struck Netanyahu’s office and the residence of Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar. However, there were no confirmed reports of missile impacts in Jerusalem, and Netanyahu’s office was reported to be intact.

The Times of Israel added that previous Iranian claims about military actions, including reports that three American fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait, were later contradicted by the United States.