August 23, 2026 | 07:40 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Several Facebook posts claiming that Iran captured dozens of Israeli soldiers have been shared by account 1 [archived], account 2, and account 3 since August 3, 2026. The content features a photo collage of Israeli soldiers allegedly held captive by Iranian troops at a dock. These photos circulated amidst the armed conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Gulf region.
The photos show Israeli soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms with the Israeli flag on their sleeves. They are bound with ropes in various positions, ranging from crouching to lying face-down. Iranian soldiers appear to be guarding the captives while armed; one soldier is even seen striking a captive with a wooden beam. Do these photos actually show Israeli soldiers captured by Iranian troops?
FACT CHECK
Tempo verified the content using reverse image searches, AI detection tools, and reports from credible media outlets. The results indicate that the photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI).
In March 2026, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 97 mercenaries operating as Israeli spies within Iranian territory. They were alleged to be affiliated with Israel and to have exploited the country's wartime situation. However, the circulated photos did not actually show the arrested spies. Tempo's fact checking team identified several anomalies in the images.
In the first photo, for instance, the subjects' legs appear disproportionately short, and their hands are uniform in shape. Additionally, the Israeli flag patches on their sleeves look detached from the clothing and appear oversized.
Tempo then analyzed the three photos using an AI detection tool. For the first photo, Hive Moderation indicated a 99.9 percent probability that the image was created using AI.
The Truth Scan analysis also indicates a 97 percent probability that the photo was created using artificial intelligence.
In the second photo, Hive Moderation detected a 99.9 percent probability of AI-generated elements.
Meanwhile, Truth Scan indicates a 97 percent probability that the photo was created using artificial intelligence.
In the third photo, Hive Moderation's analysis indicates a 96.9 percent probability that the image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Truth Scan also reinforces those findings with a 97 percent probability.
CONCLUSION
Tempo's verification concludes that the claim regarding the photo of Israeli soldiers being captured by Iranian troops is false. The photos were created using artificial intelligence (AI) and do not document the capture of an Israeli soldier by Iran.
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