India on Sunday firmly rejected as "fake" the claims circulating on social media that US fighter jets used Indian airspace to launch strikes against Iran as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.
In a clear statement, the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit (PIB Fact Check) wrote on X:
“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 Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, under which PIB operates, confirmed that no US aircraft entered Indian airspace during the operation.
The denial came hours after the US bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites, with President Donald Trump warning of further military action if Iran retaliated. The precision strikes, completed in just 25 minutes, involved stealth B-2 bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles.
According to the Indian government, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, clarified in a Pentagon briefing that the US aircraft did not require or use Indian airspace. Their route primarily involved flying westward over the Pacific Ocean and navigating through non-hostile air corridors to reach Iranian targets, avoiding politically sensitive airspace.
India’s clarification comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and increased speculation online, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where misleading narratives had begun to gain traction. By dismissing the claim, India has distanced itself from any direct or indirect involvement in the US military action.
