In the wake of recent events, specifically following India's "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, a wave of misinformation has spread across social media platforms, particularly those based in Pakistan. These false claims included allegations of retaliatory strikes on 15 Indian locations, attacks on the Srinagar Airbase, and the destruction of Indian Army facilities and fighter jets. Among the most prominent of these claims was the assertion that Pakistan had shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Indian government's nodal agency for disseminating information, stepped in to debunk these misleading claims. The PIB's fact-check unit refuted the assertion that a Rafale jet was shot down, clarifying that the image being circulated was an old one and unrelated to "Operation Sindoor". Specifically, the image was traced back to a 2021 incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) MiG-21 fighter jet crash in the Moga district of Punjab. The PIB used its official X (formerly Twitter) handle to warn the public against these old images being shared with false context.
Furthermore, another false claim emerged, alleging that the last rites of an Indian Air Force Rafale pilot were conducted following casualties during "Operation Sindoor". The PIB fact-check unit again intervened, dismissing this claim and clarifying that the image used was from 2008 and unrelated to recent events. The image was actually sourced from a CNN article about emissions from Hindu funeral pyres, depicting a mass cremation of schoolgirls in Gujarat in 2008.
"Operation Sindoor" was launched by India on May 7, 2025, as a military response to a terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. The Indian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), eliminating over 100 terrorists. India reportedly used Rafale jets in these strikes, targeting nine terror infrastructure sites. Following these strikes, Pakistan allegedly retaliated with cross-border shelling and drone attacks, leading to further coordinated Indian strikes.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a fleet of Rafale jets, with the first five arriving in India in July 2020. These jets are stationed at Air Force Station Ambala and are used for training and operations. In April 2025, India signed a deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale-Marine jets, the naval variant of the Rafale. By 2030, India is expected to have 62 Rafale jets in service, including the Rafale-M aircraft.
The spread of misinformation following "Operation Sindoor" highlights the importance of verifying information and relying on credible sources. The PIB's fact-checking efforts play a crucial role in debunking false claims and ensuring that the public has access to accurate information.
