Syria Grapples with Disinformation Surge Amidst Escalating Violence
Syria experienced a devastating wave of violence over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of approximately 800 people. The coastal town of Jableh, near Latakia, appeared to be the epicenter of the clashes, which erupted after supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad attacked the country’s new security forces. The violence quickly became entangled in a web of misinformation, adding to the chaos and confusion on the ground. Reports from Jableh ranged from desperate pleas for the fighting to stop so bodies could be buried to claims that all was peaceful, highlighting the difficulties in ascertaining the true situation. While the violence subsided by Monday, the weekend marked the most significant surge in disinformation in Syria since Assad’s removal from power in early December.
Researchers at Verify-Sy, a Syrian fact-checking organization, observed a highly coordinated effort to spread disinformation online. This coordination, according to Verify-Sy’s Zouhir al-Shimale, reached unprecedented levels since Syria’s transition to a new government. The disinformation campaign extended beyond social media posts and into private chat rooms and direct messages, where malicious actors urged minority groups, particularly Alawites residing on the Syrian coast, to flee, warning of imminent genocide. Simultaneously, these actors encouraged men to arm themselves and attack government positions, further fueling the cycle of violence.
The disinformation campaign employed increasingly sophisticated tactics, leveraging generative artificial intelligence to manipulate images and audio. This led to the proliferation of highly graphic and provocative content, some of which was authentic footage of war crimes, while others were old videos of atrocities committed by Assad’s regime, resurfaced and falsely attributed to the new government forces. The deluge of manipulated media made it challenging to discern genuine pleas for help from fabricated stories, as individuals reported dead later appeared online, denying the claims and even asserting they were not in Syria.
The rampant spread of disinformation in Syria stems from several factors. The absence of reliable, independent media outlets has elevated social media to a primary source of information, making the population particularly vulnerable to manipulation. Noura Aljizawi, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto, highlights the lack of official communication from the interim government, which further exacerbates the uncertainty and facilitates the spread of rumors and false narratives. Conflicting viewpoints from various Syrian communities add another layer of complexity. While pro-Assad factions utilize disinformation to deepen sectarian divisions and prevent reconciliation with the new government, some supporters of the revolution, in their eagerness to defend the new authority, dismiss credible reports of violence committed by the new security forces as “fake.”
The pervasive disinformation campaign has had a chilling effect on public discourse, hindering efforts to address the violence and promote unity. Razan Rashidi, director of The Syria Campaign, a UK-based advocacy organization, emphasizes the danger of this situation. The normalization of denial and the fear of reprisal on social media prevent people from speaking out against the violence or holding the interim government accountable. This climate of fear further destabilizes the country and undermines the fragile transition process.
The disinformation campaign extends beyond internal actors. External forces, including states and individuals with vested interests in undermining the new Syrian government, are actively involved. Both Aljizawi and Verify-Sy have identified Iran and its proxy networks in Iraq and Lebanon as key players. The new Syrian government’s expulsion of Iranian forces, which supported the Assad regime, has likely motivated this interference. Russia and Israel have also been implicated in spreading disinformation targeting the new government. Additionally, right-wing commentators in the US have used social media to promote Islamophobic narratives against the new leadership, further complicating the situation.
The amplification of disinformation by high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson significantly expands its reach and influence. Al-Shimale of Verify-Sy notes the danger of this trend, as it shapes public discourse, pressures policymakers, and influences international perceptions of Syria’s transition. One example of foreign interference uncovered by DW involved a social media user in Iraq who admitted to posting disinformation on behalf of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), militia groups integrated into Iraq’s security apparatus, some of whom have strong ties to Iran. This individual, motivated by both financial incentives and sectarian animosity towards Sunni Muslims in Syria, knowingly spread false narratives provided by the PMF’s media operations room. This case illustrates how disinformation campaigns are organized, funded, and disseminated across borders, often exploiting vulnerable individuals for political ends.
The Syrian interim government has announced the formation of an independent commission to investigate potential war crimes committed by all parties involved in the recent violence and has made two arrests. However, the deeply entrenched disinformation ecosystem poses a formidable challenge to establishing truth and accountability. The international community must support independent fact-checking initiatives and press social media platforms to take more proactive measures to curb the spread of disinformation. Without a concerted effort to combat this insidious form of manipulation, the prospects for peace and stability in Syria remain bleak.