The concept of a false flag operation, though often dismissed as the stuff of thrillers, is a recognised tactic in security studies and international relations. It occurs when an actor—usually a state, intelligence service, or military entity—carries out an attack but engineers circumstances to make it appear as though another party is responsible. The aim is typically to generate public indignation, compel reluctant allies to intervene, or furnish a defensible rationale for escalation that masks the true initiator. In the present Israel–Iran war, which erupted on 28th February 2026, with joint US–Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and struck key regime facilities, allegations of false-flag activity have become a prominent feature of the discourse. As of 9th […]
This article was sourced from Middle East Monitor.
Read Full Article on Middle East Monitor →![Smoke rises after Iran launched a missile attack targeting the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, following what it described as retaliation against U.S. and Israeli strikes, in Manama, Bahrain on February 28, 2026. [Stringer - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AA-20260228-40692011-40692010-IRAN_LAUNCHES_MISSILE_STRIKE_ON_US_FIFTH_FLEET_HEADQUARTERS_IN_BAHRAIN.jpg)
