Fact Check: False Claim of U.S.-Israel Ground Operation in Iran

March 20, 2026 | 01:56 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A photo claiming that U.S. and Israeli forces have occupied Iran circulated on Facebook [archive] on March 15, 2026.

The photo shows a number of tactical vehicles at a military facility. Several soldiers are seen standing among the vehicles. “The U.S. and Israeli militaries have occupied Iran. A number of combat vehicles have been deployed to Iran,” reads the text in the photo.

But is the photo really showing that the Israeli and American military forces have taken control of Iran?

FACT CHECK

Tempo verified the content using reverse image search and compared the narrative with information from credible sources. The results indicate that the photo is part of a U.S. military exercise in South Korea.

The photo had been circulating before, including on the military-related website Dvidshub on August 13, 2024. The photo is part of a joint U.S.-South Korean combat exercise called Operation Pacific Fortitude.

The video shows how tanks are operated during the exercise, including the deployment of military helicopters. The video was also uploaded to the U.S. Central Command website and the U.S. Air Force website.

No Ground Operations in Iran Yet

As of March 17, 2026, the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has only involved the deployment of missiles and drones. Neither the United States nor Israel has launched any ground operations in Iran.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran remains focused on attacking U.S. assets in Gulf countries. DW reported on March 15, 2026, that an Iranian ballistic missile exploded in Tel Aviv.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on March 2, 2026, that he would not deploy ground troops to Iran and noted that their objectives in Iran were nearly achieved.

CONCLUSION

Tempo’s verification concludes that the narrative claiming the circulating images show Israeli-American troops occupying Iran is false.

TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM

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