Death rumours about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spread widely on social media. Many users are sharing videos of airstrikes while claiming or speculating that he was killed in an Iranian strike.
Similar false claims are also circulating about his brother, Iddo Netanyahu, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with posts alleging that they too were killed in airstrikes.
However, Israeli officials say these claims are false.
"Sources indicate that Netanyahu died in an Iranian airstrike. Is this true news?" wondered a social media user who shared a video of devastating missile strikes.
"This is what's happening inside the entity. But, there is severe Arab-Hebrew media censorship. And, for this reason, we ask you to repost, please, oh man, God expose the Arab Zionists.. The operation is ongoing tonight," another user posted while sharing a video of airstrikes.
What are Iranian media reports saying?
The rumours appear to have started in Iranian state-linked media. According to few media reports, including Tasnim News Agency, suggested that Netanyahu might have been killed or injured during retaliatory strikes. These reports appeared after the Israeli leader stayed out of the public eye for a short period. Tasnim said Hebrew-language sources raised questions about Netanyahu's condition. The agency pointed to several reasons for the speculation.
It said Netanyahu had not appeared in any video for nearly three days and no photographs had been released for about four days. Before this, at least one video, sometimes up to three, was published daily. Recent statements attributed to him were only written messages. The report also claimed security around Netanyahu's home was increased on 8 March because of possible drone attacks.
Tasnim further said that a planned visit to Israel by representatives linked to Donald Trump, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, was cancelled around the same time.
Another point raised by the Iranian outlet was a phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Netanyahu. The French presidency released only a written summary of the conversation, without audio or video, and did not mention the exact date. Tasnim wrote that these claims had "not yet been officially confirmed or denied".
What do Israeli officials say?
Israeli authorities and several international news organisations have described the claims as "fake news". According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu's office rejected the Iranian reports and said the prime minister is alive and continuing his work.
The report also said Netanyahu visited the site of a missile strike in Beit Shemesh and spoke publicly, which helped dismiss the rumours.
Were missiles said to have hit Netanyahu's office?
Iran's Fars News Agency quoted a military spokesman claiming that Iranian Khaibar missiles hit Netanyahu's office and the home of Israel's Air Force chief Tomer Bar. However, Israeli reports said there were no confirmed missile strikes in Jerusalem and Netanyahu's office was not damaged.
The same Iranian spokesman had earlier claimed that three American fighter jets were shot down over Kuwait. The United States later said the aircraft were accidentally hit by Kuwait's own air defences. Some analysts say Iranian authorities have previously exaggerated military successes for propaganda purposes.