‘Do not take arms against US’: Ad on Lebanon Tinder deleted after criticism – Times of India

A warning message on the popular dating app Tinder in Lebanon featuring F-16 and A-10 jets cautioned users against taking up arms against the United States or its allies.”Do not take up arms against the United States or its partners. America will protect its partners in the face of threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies,” said the advertisement written in Arabic.The ad also said that these aircraft were already deployed in the region and are ready for action.Tinder later removed the advertisement after it sparked controversy, with a representative stating that it “violated our policies” regarding messages containing violence or political content. The unconventional choice of platform for such a message has raised questions about the US military’s information operations, which aim to influence the perceptions of international audiences and counter what it deems to be inaccurate narratives.Meanwhile, a freelance journalist in Lebanon discovered the advertisement on Tinder and reported that swiping right on the ad redirected him to a post on X by the Central Command, which had a similar warning. “Opened Tinder in Lebanon. Was greeted by an ad from CENTCOM saying in Arabic, “Do not take arms against the US and its partners”, that F-16s and A-10s are already prepared, and that the US will “protect its partners in the face of threats from the Iranian regime and its agents,” the journalist wrote in a post.”For those wondering where the ad links to: Not a website, but instead it brings you to this CENTCOM Arabic tweet with photos of American fighter jets to emphasize that they are operating right now “within the US Central Command’s area of responsibility,” he added.The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) is tasked with safeguarding and advancing American interests across 20 countries spanning the Middle East, Central and South Asia, as well as the crucial waterways that encircle them, according to the information provided on its official website.