Princess Salma of Jordan—a pilot in her country’s air force—was the subject of a viral claim she shot down Iranian drones in order to protect Israel.
Iran responded to an attack on its consulate in Syria by firing 330 drones and missiles at Israel. Israeli military sources suggested 99 percent of the drones were brought down.
Other countries helped down the drones and missiles, including Jordan, whose air space the munitions passed through, and the U.S.
The Royal Hashemite Court
The Claim
A number of Twitter accounts posted claims that Princess Salma was one of the Jordanian pilots taking part in the operation, and had herself shot down a number of drones: five in some versions, six in others.
A post by the Mossad Commentary X, formerly known as Twitter, account was viewed at least 1.6 million times and got 45,000 likes before it was deleted. It read: “Princess Salma of Jordan who is a pilot reportedly shot down 5 Iranian drones last night.”
A follow-up post read: “At the request and respect for the Jordanian General, we removed an earlier tweet(s).”
At the request and respect for the Jordanian General, we removed an earlier tweet(s).
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 15, 2024
A screenshot also circulated online showing what appeared to be a headline from the website Emirates Woman, which read: “Princess Salma of Jordan reported to down 6 Iranian drones overnight.”
The article’s intro is visible and read: “Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of conflict, Princess Salma bint Abdullah of Jordan has once again demonstrated her unwavering commitment to humanity.”
The Facts
Princess Salma is a first lieutenant in the Royal Jordanian Air Force. However, the screenshot of the article from Emirates Woman appears to be fake.
The photo, intro and reporter byline all match an older article by the publication detailing an aid drop by the princess over Gaza in December that carried the headline: “Princess Salma of Jordan leads Airforce initiative to airdrop medical supplies in Gaza.”
The article read: “Amidst the tumultuous backdrop of conflict, Princess Salma bint Abdullah of Jordan has once again demonstrated her unwavering commitment to humanity.
1845
ANALYSIS: FakeFACT: 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, (1/2) pic.twitter.com/QK13RnViWY
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) April 14, 2024
“Leading a team of Jordanian Air Force members, she orchestrated the fifth airdrop of urgent medical supplies to northern Gaza, showcasing not only her aerial prowess but also her compassionate dedication to those in need.”
The discrepancy was spotted by D-Intent Data, which posted: “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.”
In light of the only publicly cited source being fake, the claim is therefore rendered baseless.
Newsweek approached a representative of the Jordanian royal family for comment.
The Ruling
There appears to be no evidence to support the contention that Princess Salma shot down any drones beyond the faked screenshot.
Misleading Material.
FACT CHECK BY NEWSWEEK
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.