Fact Check: old image of Bashar al-Assad visit to Aleppo Hospital falsely linked Assad in Moscow

Syrian President Bashar al- Assad had left the country and landed in Moscow where he was granted asylum. Assad fled ahead of insurgents who took over Damascus, ousting the Assad regime after over 5 decades.

Amid this, on social media, an image of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has gone viral. While sharing the image users claim that “Assad in Moscow first Syrian refugees in Moscow”.

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Fact Check

During the investigation, DFRAC found that the claim to be false. We found a video on the YouTube channel of ‘Sham FM TV’ uploaded on February 12, 2023 titled “President Assad addressing medical staff at Aleppo University Hospital”.

Furthermore, we also found a photos of Assad’s visit were also posted on the Syrian President’s official X account at the time February 10, 2023. The images feature Assad and his wife wearing the same outfits as seen in the viral photo with the caption “In the first stop of President Assad and Mrs. Asma al-Assad’s visit to the city of Aleppo, they headed to Aleppo University Hospital to check on the condition of those injured and affected by the earthquake and listened to their conditions and needs.”

Conclusion

It is evident from the DFRAC’s Fact check that the viral image shows Assad in Moscow with Syrian refugees is false. The image actually comes from a February 2023 visit to Aleppo University Hospital to check on the condition of those injured and affected by the earthquake. Therefore, the claim of social media users is misleading.