India denies claims that US bombers flew over its airspace during strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
India has firmly rejected widespread social media claims suggesting that its airspace was used by US fighter jets during the recent military strikes on Iran. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-check unit issued a sharp rebuttal on Sunday, labelling the speculation as “FAKE.”
The claims surfaced shortly after President Donald Trump ordered a high-stakes military assault on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—under the codename Operation Midnight Hammer. The strikes were launched early Sunday and have since sparked global alarm and a dangerous military escalation in the Middle East.
“Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. This claim is FAKE,” the PIB Fact Check handle posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation #MidnightHammer,” the post added emphatically.
The clarification came amid a storm of speculation online, with unverified videos and accounts falsely alleging that American B-2 bombers had crossed Indian skies en route to Iran. Some posts even shared flight path diagrams with no verifiable source. Within hours, the rumour gained traction across platforms like X, Telegram, and WhatsApp, prompting the Indian government to intervene publicly.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under which PIB operates, stressed the importance of factual accuracy during high-tension geopolitical events. Officials urged the public to rely on credible sources and avoid amplifying unverified claims.
India’s statement was also backed by information from General Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had earlier detailed the aircraft routes during a Pentagon press briefing. According to General Caine, the primary fleet of B-2 stealth bombers flew east from Whiteman Air Base in Missouri, crossing the Atlantic and entering the Middle East with support from in-theatre aircraft. None of the disclosed routes mentioned Indian airspace at any point.
General Caine had also noted that a parallel group of decoy bombers flew westward over the Pacific Ocean in an elaborate diversion tactic meant to draw attention away from the real mission—a strategy that clearly did not involve the Indian subcontinent.
India’s swift denial plays a crucial role in maintaining its neutral stance in a conflict that has the potential to destabilise the broader region. New Delhi has historically walked a delicate line in Middle Eastern geopolitics, maintaining strategic relations with both Washington and Tehran.
The US strikes on Iran—carried out in response to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and its alleged support for proxies like Hezbollah—have drawn sharp reactions worldwide. In the aftermath, Iran fired a salvo of missiles into Israel, further inflaming tensions.
For India, already navigating a sensitive diplomatic path between Western allies and Gulf partners, being falsely linked to direct military action could have had damaging consequences.
Experts warn that misinformation during global crises can spread faster than official responses. “Disinformation during wartime is a weapon in itself,” said a senior Indian security analyst. “It’s critical for governments to move quickly, as India did, to avoid unnecessary entanglement in volatile situations.”
As of Monday morning, Indian officials continue to monitor online chatter closely and have reiterated that they stand committed to upholding transparency and non-involvement in foreign military operations.
