Iran uses painted ground decoy trick to mislead IDF strike

The IDF published footage showing a recent airstrike on an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter.

The Israel Defense Forces recently published footage showing what it described as an airstrike on an Iranian Mi-17 helicopter, presenting the aircraft as a destroyed military target.

However, questions have been raised about the authenticity of the object seen in the video. Patricia Marins, an independent analyst focusing on defence and security, pointed out on X that the supposed helicopter hit may have been an anamorphic painting on asphalt rather than an operational aircraft.

IDF Attacks Iranian Painting and Releases It as Destroyed Target

Iran is using anamorphic paintings on the ground to deceive attacks by the US and Israel. Notice in this video how the supposed helicopter hit is actually just a painting on the asphalt. Russia used the same… https://t.co/GQz8Accvg1 — Patricia Marins (@pati_marins64) March 4, 2026

Marins suggested that Iran could be using large-scale ground art to deceive Israeli and US aerial attacks. She also referenced similar tactics allegedly used by Russia during the 2023 phase of the war in Ukraine to mislead satellite imagery.

Footage published by the IDF shows an airstrike against a group of Iranian soldiers operating an air defence system, and the targeting of a Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter used by the Iranian army.

“The air force continues to strike the aerial capabilities of the Iranian regime,” the military says.

During the 2023 phase of the war in Ukraine, Russia has used large-scale anamorphic paintings on the ground as a deception tactic to confuse satellite imagery and aerial reconnaissance. These paintings are designed to mimic military equipment, such as aircraft, to mislead target identification, waste enemy munitions, and protect real assets