This year, like its predecessors, was significant. Fake news, images, and videos dominated every month for an entire year without respite. In addition to the bloody war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, misinformation extended to other conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, southern and central Syria.

It also reached major figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, former Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, transitional Syrian President Ahmed Shar'a, and the Israeli army's spokesperson for Arabic media, Avichay Adraee, as well as Imam Hussein. It tainted the Iraqi parliamentary elections, Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon, earthquakes, and volcanoes...  

Fake news, videos, and images examined by Annahar were predominantly generated by artificial intelligence, achieving an exorbitant amount of views. Tens of millions watched cats and ravens chanting 'Allahu Akbar' in cemeteries, bears knocking on house doors, beaches devastated by waves, people levitating due to demonic possession, and mountains emitting fire spectacularly, as if signaling the end of the world.   

From diverse headlines, the Annahar Fact-checking Section selected top 20 fake news of 2025.

1- Imam Hussein's phone number... Sold for 50 dollars?

The video shows a Shiite cleric with a black turban surrounded by people buying "Imam Hussein's phone number" for 50 dollars. However, this video is not real, having been generated by artificial intelligence. 

2- 'Military coup in France'... Macron protests a video, and an African president calls

Within hours, this video created by artificial intelligence amassed millions of views and significant interaction. It's certain that no military coup took place in France, and the video is AI-generated.

3- Flooding of the Egyptian Artifacts Library in the Louvre... What's the truth about this image?

Research revealed it is not true, having been created by artificial intelligence.

4- Hassan Nasrallah's bed in the operations headquarters... An image released for the first time?

No. In reality, this image is fake, edited. The original image shows a scene from Madeira Island in Portugal, as circulated. It can be downloaded from image storage and sales sites. 

5- Sulaf Fwakherji in Maher al-Assad's lap?

Of course not. This image is fake, forged. The original photo of Maher al-Assad from June 2017, showing him during a reception with the Syrian actor Mustafa Al-Khani was used in the forgery.

6- Exclusive picture of Pope Leo's plane flying over the Raouché Rock?

Research concluded that this image is fake, edited. The original image, dated August 3, 2025, shows Pope Leo XIV in a helicopter during the 'Youth Jubilee' in Rome, Italy, with a different view from his window.  

7- Israel offers land for sale in Southern Lebanon and publishes its map?

This news, which spread like wildfire, was found to be old. The map shared was published by the Israeli settlement movement 'Ori Tzafon' on September 23, 2024, to promote settlement in southern Lebanon.

8- Iraqi elections... What's the truth about excluding Sudani, Maliki, and Moanes from parliamentary elections?

Documents claiming to be from Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, ordering candidate exclusions, were spread. Annahar debunked this falsehood.

9- Egypt's land is Christian according to the constitution... Did the Pope of the Copts say this?

Upon reviewing the Pope's original speech context, he was found not to have said this. The constitution's preamble says something different.

10- The truth about the Sudanese mother who tried to protect her children from gunmen in Al-Fashir

Actually, these images are unrelated to recent events in Al-Fashir, as they are old, dating back to September 12, 2025. 

11- Saudi Arabia reveals the design of the Neom Suspended Stadium?

The official site for the Saudi 34 World Cup did not publish this design, nor did the relevant Saudi authorities release any recent statements or information about it. It turns out that the Hypora Ultraworks account, which "imagines the future" through fantasy architecture, published the video on October 15, 2025, claiming it as one of its AI-generated designs for a stadium atop a skyscraper. 

12- Syrian President Ahmed Shar'a eats falafel in New York?

Within a few hours, the image spread widely on social media. But research found it to be fake, created by artificial intelligence. 

13- An image of the Israeli General Shakimu who was recently assassinated in Rafah?

In fact, the image belongs to the former head of Israeli military intelligence, General Aharon Haliva, who resigned on April 22, 2024, about six months after the October 7, 2023 operation.

14- Broadcaster insults Avichay Adraee... "You're a dog?"

This clip is fake. Old original footage from June 8, 2024, was used in the forgery. It shows Avichay Adraee during an interview on Sky News Arabia, discussing the liberation of four Israeli hostages in a special military operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Gaza Strip at the time. 

15- The case of Iraqi Doctor Ban Ziad's death... Rumors, declarations, and fake images confound the investigation

Suicide or murder? While Iraqis awaited the official investigation results into the death of young Iraqi doctor Ban Ziad Tariq, statements, images, and videos stirred rumors around the case, and Annahar fact-checked their accuracy. 

16- We apologize for the graphic nature... A horrific crime video in Mexico falsely attributed to Druze in Sweida 

This gruesome footage showing a young man being disemboweled and eaten savagely is unrelated to events in Sweida, southern Syria, and is actually from a crime in Mexico in 2020. 

17- "The Israeli spy in Iran" Catherine Shakdam... No proof for published information 

According to social media, Shakdam, who infiltrated the Iranian regime, met Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and married 100 Iranian officials in temporary marriage. But what do we really know about her? 

18- The Muslim Brotherhood announced its dissolution in Egypt?

Searching the Muslim Brotherhood's official sources on Telegram, Facebook, and their official website revealed no such statement was published, indicating it is entirely fabricated. 

19- Ahmed Shar'a's wife called for sexual jihad

This fake news was concocted without any basis. The First Lady of Syria did not make a similar statement to any official media, such as the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) or other local media outlets. This statement was also not shared on the official pages of the Syrian government.

20- A bear and its owner ring the doorbell of an American elderly?

The video garnered millions of views and thousands of comments and shares after its widespread circulation on social media. However, it is fake, having been generated by artificial intelligence.