False flag

A false flag operation is a covert operation designed to deceive the public by concealing the identity of the perpetrators or the true source of an action. The term is derived from the military practice of flying a flag other than one's own, typically to disguise one's identity or intentions. In modern usage, it often refers to actions taken to appear as though they are committed by entities, groups, or nations other than those who actually committed them. The phrase is also used more broadly to describe any deceptive or misleading action intended to conceal responsibility. In Hebrew, the term is translated as דגל כוזב (degel kuzav). Similar terms in other languages include fausse bannière in French, falsa bandera in Spanish, and falsche Flagge in German. False flag operations can be employed in various contexts, including warfare, politics, and intelligence operations, to manipulate public opinion, justify military actions, or divert attention from the true perpetrators.