Franz Ferdinand slam IDF for using ‘Take Me Out’ in propaganda video

Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand have criticised the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after their breakthrough song ‘Take Me Out’ appeared in a military propaganda video celebrating recent strikes on Iran.

Frontman Alex Kapranos said the band did not authorise the use of the track and reacted angrily after the clip circulated online over the weekend.

In a message shared on Instagram, Kapranos condemned the military for using the song without permission.

“These warmongering murderers are using our music without our consent,” he wrote.

“This makes us both nauseous and furious. Kind of typical though, isn’t it? To strut up and take what isn’t theirs with a vile arrogance.”

The video, which has since been deleted, carried the caption “Operation Roaring Lion – this is how it’s done.”

It showed an Israeli soldier celebrating while footage of fighter jets and explosions played on screen following Israel’s recent strikes on Iran.

Part of Franz Ferdinand’s 2004 track ‘Take Me Out’ could be heard in the clip, including lyrics from the opening verse: “I’m just a cross-hair, I’m just a shot away from you.”

The band’s response quickly gained attention online, with fans sharing screenshots of Kapranos’s statement.

Released in 2004, ‘Take Me Out’ became Franz Ferdinand’s breakout hit and helped establish the Scottish group as one of the defining acts of the mid-2000s indie rock revival. The track appeared on the band’s self-titled debut album and propelled them to international fame.

The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.

That same day, US President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei had been killed.

The military video that included Franz Ferdinand’s music was later removed from online platforms.