The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has dismissed claims that the United States utilized Indian airspace for airstrikes on Iran during its recent military operation, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, which took place on June 21. The mission, primarily focused on Iran’s nuclear facilities, has led to a surge of misinformation circulating online, which includes allegations accusing India of complicity in the U.S. actions.
General Dan Caine, Chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the operation involved the deployment of 125 aircraft, employing decoy maneuvers across the Pacific Ocean. Pentagon briefings further validated that the B-2 bombers and their support units were launched from bases located within the continental U.S.
Various social media platforms had circulated the narrative that U.S. aircraft had flown through Indian airspace en route to Iran, insinuating that this represented “silent support” from New Delhi for the operation. However, Indian officials have refuted these claims, underscoring the geographical impracticality of such a flight path. Notably, India does not share a border with Iran, and any flights would have necessitated traversing over Pakistan, a nation that the United States typically avoids for military operations due to its complex geopolitical relationship.
Geopolitical analysts suggest that the false narrative may have stemmed from misinformation campaigns linked to regional rivalries. One expert remarked, “It appears to be an attempt to drag India into a volatile situation unnecessarily.”
India’s airspace is divided into four Flight Information Regions (FIRs) – Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata – and officials have stated that none of these regions were involved or alerted for any purported overflight activities.
The PIB has urged the public to stay alert and refrain from disseminating unverified information, especially given the heightened tensions in the Middle East. While the Indian government has not yet indicated any specific actions against the promoters of this disinformation, there is an increasing call for accountability from experts in cyber and national security.
As of now, there has been no official reaction from Tehran concerning the debunked allegations, but India remains vigilant, closely monitoring developments in the region while prioritizing accurate information and geopolitical stability.
