The French Navy has issued a sharp public rebuttal, accusing a major Pakistani media outlet of publishing completely fabricated information regarding India's military Operation Sindoor and the performance of Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jets. The stern condemnation was directed at Geo TV for a report filled with what the French authorities termed 'misinformation and disinformation'.
French Navy's Official Denunciation on X
In an unusual move, the 'Marine Nationale' (French Navy) took to its official X (formerly Twitter) handle to set the record straight. The statement explicitly called out the false narrative, stating, "FAKENEWS: These statements were attributed to Captain Launay who never gave his consent for any form of publication. The article contains extensive misinformation and disinformation." This direct and public calling-out highlights the severity of the false reporting.
The controversy stems from a report broadcast by Pakistan's Geo TV on November 21. The report quoted an individual identified as "Jacques Launay" who allegedly praised the Pakistan Air Force's superiority during an aerial engagement on May 6-7. The broadcast further made the sensational and unverified claim that Indian Rafale jets were shot down with Chinese support.
Setting the Facts Straight: The Real Captain Launay
The French Navy's clarification systematically dismantled every false claim made in the Pakistani report. First, it corrected the officer's identity, clarifying that his real name is Captain Yvan Launay, not 'Jacques'. More importantly, the Navy detailed his actual role, which is far removed from the context presented in the fake news.
"Contrary to what has been established in the article, his responsibilities are limited to commanding the organic naval air station where the French Rafale Marine aircraft are stationed," the Navy stated. It was emphasized that Captain Launay's presentation at an Indo-Pacific conference was strictly technical, focusing on the assets of his naval air base, the missions of the Rafale fighter jet, and the French carrier strike group concept.
Responding to specific falsehoods, the Navy clarified that Captain Launay "neither confirmed nor denied that Indian aircrafts had been shot down" during Operation Sindoor. Furthermore, he "refused to comment on possible jamming of the Indian Rafale by Chinese systems" and "never mentioned the Chinese J10." This directly contradicted Geo TV's claim that he had compared the Rafale with the Chinese J-10C and pointed out its shortcomings.
Political Reactions and a Larger Disinformation Campaign
The French Navy's public debunking was quickly picked up by Indian political figures. BJP spokesperson and IT cell chief Amit Malviya reacted strongly on X, labeling Geo TV's report as "same old, fabricated claims." He also took a dig at the journalist behind the report, Hamid Mir, and suggested that such official rebuttals expose the desperation of Pakistan's "misinformation machinery."
This incident appears to be part of a larger pattern. The French rebuttal comes just days after a report by the US-China Economic and Review Commission exposed a Chinese disinformation campaign initiated in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The US report alleged that the campaign's objective was to "hinder the sales of French Rafale aircraft in favour of its own J-35s" by using fake social media accounts to propagate AI-generated images of plane debris.
It is crucial to recall the context of Operation Sindoor, which was launched by India as a direct response to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir on April 22, in which 26 civilians were tragically killed. The Indian military response targeted Pakistan-sponsored terrorist sites.
The public correction by a major military force like the French Navy serves as a significant validation of India's stance and exposes the circulation of false narratives aimed at undermining its military capabilities and international partnerships.
