In the aftermath of India’s precision strikes on terror hubs inside Pakistan, journalist Rana Ayyub has faced severe backlash for amplifying unverified claims from Pakistani sources, including false reports of downed Indian jets and captured soldiers.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Retaliation
The Indian Army confirmed early Wednesday (7 May 2025) that it had struck nine terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir in Operation Sindoor, a direct response to the devastating Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists. The military emphasized that the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” deliberately avoiding Pakistani military installations.
The Indian Army also posted on its official X handle, “Justice is Served. Jai Hind.”
Justice is Served.
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/Aruatj6OfA
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 6, 2025
Pakistan’s Disinformation Push, Rana Ayyub Plays Her Part
As India’s operation unfolded, Pakistani media and online propaganda networks began circulating false narratives about retaliatory strikes. Among the most prominent voices echoing these claims was ‘journalist’ Rana Ayyub, who shared a Bloomberg article titled, “India Strikes Pakistan After Kashmir Attacks. Pakistan Says It Has Shot Down Five Indian Planes, Taken Soldiers Prisoner.”
This claim, now widely debunked, was not corroborated by Pakistan’s own military, as clarified by the Pakistani Defence Minister, who publicly confirmed that no Indian aircraft were shot down and no Indian soldiers were captured.
Despite mounting evidence that the reports she amplified were false, Ayyub did not retract or delete her tweet. Experts and fact-checkers have also confirmed that videos and images circulated to support Pakistan’s narrative are outdated, including footage from sectarian clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024 and an old IAF jet crash in Rajasthan.
Netizen Reaction
Here are some netizen reactions debunking Ayyub.
You could expect Rana Ayyub to the first Indian handle to propagate fake Pak propaganda!! Till date I thought she only hated the Govt but today she has proven that she hates India!! Shame on you!! https://t.co/NG21Q4Zh6w
— Somil Agrawal (@somilagrawal) May 7, 2025
Please open the link and read carefully, I think you are still a ‘journalist’ right?#OperationSindoor https://t.co/8oSsPnk6Nc pic.twitter.com/Cbl2Jan9QA
— amar srivastava (@amarsri1401) May 7, 2025
She should be booked for spreading fake and unverified news against Indian Air Force at the war times and discouraging the morale of the Nation via fake news. @MIB_India @IAF_MCC . https://t.co/R1K2cHv4Px
— ANKIT ANAND 🇮🇳🪷🚩 (@Ankitsatyagrahi) May 7, 2025
This a verified account of an Indian Passport holder playing for Pakistan.
Don't know when @MIB_India will withheld this MF B!tch account in India.
Such Breed should be immediately put behind bars or should be thrown out of the nation or world. https://t.co/ePsNnQmL1R— Shashank Misra (@The_MisraJi) May 7, 2025
Independent security analysts noted that Pakistan’s information operations relied heavily on misinformation in the wake of Operation Sindoor’s success. Several Pakistani social media handles pushed fabricated content, falsely claiming attacks on Srinagar Air Force base and other Indian installations—none of which occurred, according to verified reports.
The Indian Army is expected to provide a detailed briefing on Operation Sindoor later today, but has emphasized its intent was to punish terror actors, not escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
(With inputs from Financial Express)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
