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OPINION NOVEMBER 07, 2025 | The Indian Eye 10

The Invisible Battlefield:

Information Operations in the

12-Day Israel–Iran War

Israel and Iran treated the information domain as a battleground, where legitimacy and perception were as crucial as kinetic
outcomes. Israel’s campaign focused on delegitimising the Iranian regime and reinforcing its own image as a stable and responsible
regional power. Iran’s efforts were aimed at sustaining cohesion, projecting strength, and countering Israeli narratives

HARSH YADAV

nformation operations involve a
coordinated effort to shape how
Idifferent audiences, including en-
emy forces, domestic populations and
the international community, think,
feel and respond during conflict.
These operations combine tools such
as psychological influence, cyber ac-
tivities, strategic communication and
media management to gain an advan-
tage in the information environment.
Similarly, the U.S. Joint Doctrine (JP
3-13) views IO as:
The integrated employment,
during military operations, of infor-
mation-related capabilities in con-
cert with other lines of operation to
influence, disrupt, corrupt, or usurp
the decision making of adversaries
and potential adversaries while pro-
tecting our own.

ISRAEL’S INFORMATION
OPERATIONS On 13 June 2025, released a video message on his official X (formerly Twitter) account in which he was seen addressing the people of Iran (Agency)
srael set as its central goals sev- ing how IO became an instrument of framing Israel as a protector of its times coordinated by bot networks
eral operational objectives for reassurance and influence. own people, the Arab neighbours
Iits information-operations cam- Since the initial days of the and European countries, Netanya- and diaspora influencers.
The Iranian Ministry of Intelli-
paign against Iran, notably emphasis- conflict, Israel has launched a so- hu sought to expand the cognitive gence, in its report on 29 July 2025,
ing regime change, promotion of lib- phisticated campaign to spotlight boundaries of the conflict, beyond a described this conflict as a conven-
eration and freedom, and countering internal disturbance within Iran. A bilateral contest with Iran and also tional military campaign, framing it
Iranian narratives. These narratives notable early example came from portray Israel’s actions as legitimate as a hybrid war that included ‘cogni-
were promoted by the Ministry of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin and necessary. This message aimed tive warfare’ alongside ‘psychological
Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Israel Netanyahu, who on 13 June 2025, to make a moral and strategic impact operations’ and sabotage
Defense Forces (IDF) officials. Si- released a video message on his of- on domestic and international audi- Israel’s information machinery
multaneously, it sought to limit panic ficial X (formerly Twitter) account ences. The appeal to the Iranian peo- was aimed at shattering regime le-
and reassure domestic audiences by in which he was seen addressing the ple shows that from the initial days gitimacy among the Iranian people.
reporting interception figures and op- people of Iran. In his statement, he of the conflict, the primary focus of For instance, a public statement from
erational successes. By highlighting said, “Our fight is not with you; our Israel was to delegitimise the Iranian Israeli officials and military leaders,
the effects of strikes and asserting air fight is with the brutal dictator who regime. highlighting the messages of liber-
superiority over Iran through official oppressed you for 46 years. I believe Pro-Israel Telegram channels ation and freedom, was released by
social-media posts and animated vi- that the day of your liberation is and X (formerly Twitter) accounts the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon
sualisations, Israel demonstrated that near.” broadcast footage of previous pro- Saar on his X account, stating: “We
IO are not merely a supportive tool, This direct address by the Israe- tests, presenting them as real-time warned Iran time and again: stop tar-
but an integral part of modern war- li Prime Minister was not merely a reactions to Israeli strikes. Hashtags geting civilians! They continued, in-
fare. This dual approach served both political statement; it reflected the such as #DownwithTheRegime and cluding this morning. Our response:
to maintain domestic morale and strategic use of leadership commu- #FreeTehran trended on both local
shape external perceptions, highlight- nication as an instrument of IO. By and global platforms and were some- Continued on next page... >>

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