'Iran cyber-op' using fake social media profiles 'coming to destroy Israel', says watchdog

A clandestine Iranian operation is allegedly attempting to create disquiet in Israel by sharing radical posts online while posing as high-profile supporters of former right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party.

The effort has seen alleged operatives run fake social media profiles, with images taken from the web and using Hebrew names to "harm" Netanyahu's Likud Party and others, Israel's Channel 12 alleged on Wednesday.

The outlet didn't provide conclusive evidence linking the accounts with Iran, according to The Times of Israel.

"They are not coming to hurt the Likud. They're coming to destroy Israel," claimed Achiya Schatz, head of disinformation watchdog Fake Reporter, the Israeli group that identified the alleged plot.

There are at minimum ten Facebook accounts whose posts included political memes.

They were able to join a total of 92 groups on the platform, including 50 aligned with Likud and nine opposed to Netanyahu, meaning more than one million people could have potentially viewed their posts, according to Channel 12.

Likud supporters were also approached by fake profiles.

Orly Lev, a Netanyahu supporter, said she shared a message in which one of the accounts urged a demonstration opposing current Israeli premier Naftali Bennett be held.

Lev became wary of the profile when it suggested she would be paid for organising the anti-Bennett rally.

Ex-Likud parliamentarian Nissim Vatouri provided his phone number in a public forum after one of the accounts tweeted a request to contact him.

Israeli defence officials were informed about the false accounts and are investigating the matter, according to sources speaking with Channel 12.