• A sharp increase in anti-Muslim posts on X followed the US-Israeli war on Iran starting February 28.
• Over 25,300 Islamophobic posts were reported between February 28 and March 5, with the total mentions reaching 279,417.
• Dehumanizing language targeting Muslims was prevalent, framing them as an "infestation" and inciting violence.
• Political rhetoric amplifying hostility towards Muslims is directly linked to this surge in online hate speech.
• Only a fraction of the flagged violent posts were removed by the social media platform.

A report by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) revealed a "sharp spike" in anti-Muslim posts on the social media platform X, coinciding with the onset of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28. The volume of such posts increased from nearly 2,000 per day to over 6,000, marking a significant escalation in Islamophobic rhetoric against Muslim Americans, as analyzed from data collected between January 1 and March 5, according to Middle East Eye, AA, and Al Jazeera.

Between February 28 and March 5, researchers identified 25,348 Islamophobic posts, many containing dehumanizing language such as "rats," "vermin," and "parasites." When including reposts, the reach of these posts expanded significantly, totaling 279,417 mentions. This escalation in hostile discourse followed the initial rise of tensions in the region and coincided with a mass shooting in Austin, Texas, where the assailant shared sympathetic sentiments towards the conflict with Iran, according to Middle East Eye, AA, and Al Jazeera.

The CSOH highlighted that the rhetoric from political figures has been a significant factor in the surge of anti-Muslim sentiment. Comments from senior Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who described Iran as a regime governed by "prophetic Islamic delusions," have fueled this hostile environment. Such statements create a dangerous precedent by framing military actions in religious terms, which can exacerbate existing biases against Muslim communities, according to Middle East Eye, AA, and Al Jazeera.

Despite the significant volume of hateful content, enforcement actions taken by the platform were minimal. While the CSOH flagged 30 of the most egregious posts as violating terms related to "Violent Speech" and "Hate, Abuse or Harassment," only 11 were removed while 19 remained accessible, highlighting a troubling enforcement gap that allows harmful messages to persist online. The report urges social media companies to adopt better monitoring practices and calls for accountability from political leaders regarding the language they use, which can inflame social tensions, according to Middle East Eye, AA, and Al Jazeera.