Fact Check: Viral Post Says Jordan's Princess Salma Shot Down Iranian Drones, Here's The Truth

A series of posts on X falsely claimed that Princess Salma bint Abdullah, the third child of Jordan’s King Abdullah and Queen Rania, shot down Iranian drones which flew through Jordanian airspace on their way to Israel.

Iran launched a direct attack on its arch foe Israel for the first time, firing more than 300 missiles and drones.

Nearly all were intercepted by Israel and others, including the United States, Jordan and Britain.

As the internet went abuzz with fears of fresh tensions in West Asia and a possible war between Israel and Iran, a story with a photo of Princess Salma started making rounds, soon after news broke that Jordan on Sunday intercepted “flying objects” that breached its airspace overnight as Iran launched an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel.

“Some flying objects that entered our airspace last night were dealt with and confronted,” the government said in a statement, stressing that the military “will confront anything that would expose the security and safety of the nation… to any danger or transgression by any party”.

The West Asian nation along with the UK and US intercepted some of those aerial threats.

The false news stories using a photo of Princess Salma from December last year, when she joined the kingdom’s forces to airdrop aid into Gaza for war-ravaged Palestinians, claimed that Princess Salma intercepted an Iranian drone.

It should, however, be noted that Princess Salma bint Abdullah, daughter of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, in 2020 became the first woman in her country to pass her theoretical and practical pilot training with the Jordanian Armed Forces.

D-Intent Data, a news data research and fact-checking agency, took to X to clarify that the news was fabricated. “A digitally altered screenshot of a media outlet has been shared claiming that Princess Salma of Jordan shot down 6 Iranian drones last night. These claims are fake and fabricated. The article’s original headline reads “Princess Salma of Jordan leads Air Force initiative to airdrop medical supplies in Gaza.” It was published on 15 December 2023,” the organisation said.

“INTENT: Propagandists are circulating digitally altered news articles to set their propaganda over the escalating conflict between Israel-Iran,” it further added.

Several blue-tick, verified X accounts like Mossad Commentary which often posts pro-Israel content also posted the news and independent media company and pollster Rasmussen Polls, both accounts which are followed by more than 300,000 people on Twitter appeared to back the claim with a quote repost.

Meanwhile, the Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Sunday said escalating tensions would lead to “dangerous paths” and that there was a need to reduce escalation by all parties while addressing cabinet members on Sunday.

He said Jordanian forces will thwart any attempt by any party which seeks to endanger the kingdom’s security.

“There is a need for all parties to act responsibly and exercise utmost degree of self restraint… and not be dragged towards any escalation that will no doubt have dangerous consequences,” Khasawneh said.