Publication: Syria
The Dispatch→ Russia, Iran Escalate in Syria
New reports detail a coordinated effort to target U.S. troops and allies. Continue reading Russia, Iran Escalate in Syria »
Logically→ No, this video doesn’t show U.N. Army rescuing ‘enslaved’ Hindu women from ISIS
The Dispatch→ The Arab League’s Misguided Faith in Bashar al-Assad
Syria's President Bashar al-Assado n May 3, 2023 In Damascus, Syria. (Photo by Borna News/Matin Ghasemi/Aksonline ATPImages/Getty Images)The organization has lifted his suspension based on promises he’s unlikely to keep.Continue reading The Arab
Logically→ This image does not show a recent Russian attack on a NATO base; it was taken in Syria in 2021
The Dispatch→ Assad’s Earthquake Opportunism
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visits Aleppo, on February 10. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)The regime in Damascus tries to shed its pariah status while simultaneously stalling relief work. The post Assad’s Earthquake Opportunism appeared first
The Dispatch→ Picking Through Turkey’s Rubble
People watch as construction crews clear destroyed buildings in central Kahramanmaraş. Turkey. (Photo by Charlotte Lawson)A rocky earthquake recovery will have political consequences for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.The post Picking Through
Poynter→ Fact-checkers in the Middle East speak out after the Turkey-Syria earthquake
As the official death toll from Monday’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria surpasses 22,000, fact-checking organizations that operate out of the region described the chaotic state of information, the effects […] The post Fact-checkers in the Middl
The Dispatch→ Death Toll Still Rising in Turkey, Syria
Families of victims stand as rescue officials search among the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, on February 9, 2023. (Photo by Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images.) Plus: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declares a state of emergency and rescue teams head t
The Dispatch→ Erdogan’s Coming U-Turn on Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, on December 21, 2022. (Photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images.)Why the Turkish president will likely drop his hopes of toppling Assad.The post Erdo
The Dispatch→ Turkey on the Brink
Next year’s presidential election could reshape how Ankara sees its place in the world.The post Turkey on the Brink appeared first on The Dispatch.
Logically→ A widely shared image shows a Syrian boy sleeping between his parents’ graves.
The photo was taken as part of a project by Saudi Arabian photographer Abdul Aziz Al-Otaibi with his nephew. The stone mounds are not graves.
Snopes→ Biden: US Raid in Syria Killed Top Islamic State Leader
A U.S. special forces raid in northwestern Syria killed the top leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi.
Logically→ America is responsible for the destruction of buildings in Homs, Syria.
The two images circulating are from different countries. Buildings in Homs were destroyed when government planes struck rebel-held districts in 2013.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Justin Trudeau Say That ‘Islam is the Only Way to Improve Life in Canada’?
A recurring pattern of smear attempts against Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flared up yet again in February 2020, when a Facebook user attempted to gin up a meme about him using a debunked, Islamophobic rumor: The February 8 2020 post show
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Photograph Show Syrians Leaving Idlib?
In January 2020, the Syrian region of Idlib — the last rebel bastion in the country — teetered on the verge of further humanitarian disaster as its own government continued airstrikes against the population there. Meanwhile, the Russian government
Snopes→ Syria Cease-Fire Off to Rocky Start amid Reports of Fighting
The cease-fire in northern Syria got off to a rocky start, as Kurdish leaders accused Turkey of violating the accord with continued fighting at a key border town while casting doubt on provisions in the U.S.-brokered deal with Ankara.
Truth or Fiction?→ MIT Science Professor Accused of Spreading Disinformation Resigns From Science Journal
A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has resigned from the board of a prestigious science journal after he was accused of spreading conspiracy theories about a chemical weapons attack in Syria in 2017 and a major scientific journ
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Trump Send a Letter Telling Erdogan, ‘Don’t Be a Fool’?
As criticism continued to swirl around President Donald Trump for his Middle East policy, a Fox Business Channel host produced a letter from him on to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey seeking “a good deal.” A photogr
Truth or Fiction?→ ABC News Yanks ‘Slaughter in Syria’ Video Revealed as YouTube Clip Filmed in Kentucky
On October 14 2019, ABC News walked back a story that aired on two of its marquee programs after the footage was revealed to be a YouTube clip filmed in the United States in 2017. “This video obtained by ABC News, appears to show the fury of the
Snopes→ Did ABC Mistakenly Label a Video from a US Gun Range as Syrian War Footage?
A video that aired during ABC News' coverage of Turkey's attack on Kurds in northern Syria drew widespread attention.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did Kurdish Fighters Help the United States During World War II?
A major decision to abandon a Kurdish group that had been a key ally to United States troops in the Middle East was an overnight policy decision that was apparently based on a distortion of military history. On October 9 2019, the president defended h
Truth or Fiction?→ Was a Protest Banner Unfurled at Trump’s Las Vegas Hotel?
A protest video against United States President Donald Trump circulated online on October 9 2019 drew heavy attention online for its message on a computer-generated banner: A video shows the “banner” seemingly being unfurled at the Trump
Snopes→ ‘Mr. Kurd’ Says Trump Has Abandoned US Allies in Middle East
A year ago, Kurdish journalist Rahim Rashidi stood up at a news conference and listened to President Donald Trump praise his people.
Truth or Fiction?→ Officials Say United States Not Vacating Syria, Contradicting Trump: Reports
Amid reports that Turkish forces had begun mounting an attack on Syria, two separate news outlets reported that United States officials had contradicted U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that American troops would be vacating the Syria-T
Snopes→ Documents Offer Rare Look Inside Syrian Government Crackdown
When protests erupted in March 2011 in Syria — in part inspired by Arab Spring — the government responded with a violent crackdown.
Snopes→ US Military Says American Troops Killed in Syria Blast
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the rare morning attack, saying one of its members carried out a suicide attack.
Truth or Fiction?→ Did the United States Give Jordan $500 Million to Build a Wall on its Border with Iraq?
On January 8, 2019, just after President Donald Trump addressed the United States on the matter of his intent to construct another border wall, the Facebook page “The American Dreamer” shared the following meme: Text overlaid on an image
Snopes→ Trump Call with Turkish Leader Led to US Pullout from Syria
President Trump rejected the advice of his top aides and agreed to a withdrawal in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Snopes→ Trump Pulling All US Troops from Syria, Declaring IS Defeat
Trump's declaration of victory was far from unanimous, and officials said U.S. defense and military leaders were trying to dissuade him from ordering the withdrawal right up until the last minute.
Snopes→ Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at Syria Militants over Attack
The missiles had enough range to strike regional U.S. military bases and targets inside both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Snopes→ Russia Blames Israel for Plane Shot Down by Syrian Missile
The Russian military said the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft was hit 35 kilometers (22 miles) offshore as it was returning to its home base nearby.
Snopes→ Does This Video Show Injuries Created with Makeup to Fool the Public About Atrocities?
A video featuring a Palestinian makeup artist was used as propaganda to claim that reports of atrocities in Syria and Israel had been faked.
Snopes→ Assad Supporters Plan to Put the ‘Media on Trial’ for Doing Journalism in Syria
A panel of conspiracy theorists plan to gather to discuss whether war reporters should be considered terrorists.
Snopes→ Dennis Kucinich’s Visits to Syrian Dictator Bashar al-Assad Criticized Amid Ohio Governor’s Race
The former representative has a track record of visiting the war criminal president and spreading conspiracy theories about Syria.
Snopes→ Did an Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Accept $20,000 from a Pro-Assad Group?
Former Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat, disclosed he received the money as payment for a speech.
Snopes→ Critics Slam Viral Stories Claiming Douma Chemical Attack Victims Died from ‘Dust’
Journalists and experts says a widely-shared report about Syria from The Independent bolsters talking points for the Assad regime and the Kremlin.
Snopes→ Proof the White Helmets ‘Staged’ a Chemical Attack in Syria?
Images purportedly proving that the White Helmets staged a chemical attack in Syria are actually stills from a movie set.
Snopes→ Did Hillary Clinton Say ‘We Must Destroy Syria for Israel’ in a Leaked E-Mail?
Controversy around military action in Syria led to the recirculation of an inaccurate claim about Hillary Clinton.
Snopes→ Did Donald Trump Tweet Warnings About Obama Ordering Syrian Airstrikes?
In 2013, Donald Trump issued multiple warnings to his predecessor about attacking Syria without congressional approval.