Türkiye denies social media claims of border crossings from Iran

2026-02-28 - 11:32

Türkiye's presidential Center for Combating Disinformation issued a formal denial on Saturday regarding social media posts claiming illegal crossings were taking place along the Iranian border amid the ongoing US-Israeli military operation against Tehran. In a statement posted on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, the center identified the circulating footage as old recordings from unknown locations and time periods, deliberately recirculated to exploit recent regional developments for misinformation purposes. Border security remains intact The center's statement emphasized that no concrete evidence exists connecting the widely shared images to Türkiye's border with Iran. "Türkiye's border security is maintained uninterruptedly on a 24/7 basis through multi-layered systems," the center affirmed, pushing back against what it described as an organized effort to create negative public perception regarding the country's border control capabilities. The reassurance comes as neighboring countries implement emergency measures following the escalation between US-Israeli forces and Iran. Disinformation warning issued Officials urged the public to exercise caution when encountering unverified content on social media platforms, particularly during periods of heightened regional tension. "Such posts aim to create a negative perception among the public by targeting border security," the center warned, advising citizens to rely exclusively on statements from official sources rather than unsubstantiated claims circulating online. The directive reflects growing concern over information warfare tactics employed during military confrontations. Regional context of false claims The disinformation campaign coincides with Saturday's joint US-Israeli operation against Iran, which has triggered widespread airspace closures and emergency declarations across the Middle East. As the conflict unfolds, multiple nations have reported surges in misleading content designed to exploit public anxiety. For Türkiye, which maintains one of the region's most extensive border security infrastructures, the false narratives represent an additional challenge to stability as Ankara monitors developments along its eastern frontier. The center's rapid response demonstrates the government's commitment to maintaining public trust in official communications during the evolving crisis.