Disinfo: US uses terrorism and coronavirus in Syria

Summary

The Americans have exhausted all their means [in Syria]: First, with the military support of terrorism, the incitement of Turkey, the mobilisation of the Gulf countries, and the encouragement of the Israelis to carry out an air raid on targets near Damascus. All of these movements did not help… In this regard, the Americans called for help the dangerous epidemic of coronavirus, accusing Iran of causing the death of individuals from Lebanon, the Gulf countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with an infection that moved from neighbouring Iranian lands. Will Corona save American influence in Syria and Iraq and stifle Iran? This is what Pompeo wants, but the countries that are targeted by rumours of coronavirus are working to protect their people from the coronavirus epidemic and another more dangerous epidemic, that is, the American colonialism that makes great efforts to renew its youth.

Disproof

This article combines two of the most common pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the US controlling global terrorism and being behind the spread of coronavirus. The message that the US supports terrorists in Syria is part of a broader conspiracy theory alleging that the United States and its NATO partners have created and supported many jihadi terrorist organisations and control global terrorism. In reality, the US is committed to fighting terrorist organisations, such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda. Additionally, the claim that Iran was unjustly targeted by coronavirus rumours to stifle its influence in Syria and Iraq is completely false. There is a consensus that Iran was one of the hardest-hit countries by the virus, to the extent that Russia itself has suspended flights between Russia and Iran. Read here similar cases claiming that ISIS has been supported by US, British, French and Israeli intelligence services in order to demolish Syria and that Al Baghdadi was an American product.

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Katehon - English (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 190
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 27/02/2020
  • Outlet language(s) English
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Turkey, Syria, US
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Imperialism/colonialism, Conspiracy theory, Terrorism, Syrian War
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Disinfo: White Helmets carry out criminal activities and are an arm of British and American intelligence

Russia was able, in cooperation with Syrian journalists, to prove that the allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons [in Douma] are pure slander by the Western-backed White Helmets.

The organisation [White Helmets] is funded by British intelligence services and is performing its functions by disseminating information and allegations against Syria and its army.

The White Helmets are an arm of British and American intelligence, and its founder, British intelligence officer James Le Mesurier, was killed in “mysterious circumstances” near his home in Istanbul last November.

The organization uses “humanitarian mask” as a cover for its criminal activities. It cooperates with the “Jabhat al-Nusra” organisation, which controls most of Idlib governorate.

Feb 26, 2020
Disproof

An example of many disinformation and propagandist claims about the White Helmets. Pro-Kremlin media routinely accuse the White Helmets of “working for terrorists” and being a creation of the Western intelligence services. No evidence is given to support these claims.

The "White Helmets" movement originated in Syria in 2012. The organisation, which is made up of 3,400 volunteers including teachers, engineers, tailors and firefighters, states that it has no affiliation to any political or military actor and is committed to rendering services to anyone in need. Volunteers save people from the rubble after bombings, despite the danger of dying themselves as a result of repeated air strikes.

Disinfo: Coronavirus is an artificial virus

Indian scientists have been experimenting with new coronavirus and have discovered that it contains two types of coronavirus – bat and snake, as well as four types of HIV viral infections. In December 2019, we learned about the COVID-19 virus in China. The most interesting is that just a few months before, US President Donald Trump announced that “Unless China pulls itself together, they will be sorely regretting.” Given the findings of Indian scientists, we come to the conclusion that this is an artificial virus.

Feb 26, 2020
Disproof

The statement is another example of conspiracy narratives on a plot against China, profitable to the US. See more examples of groundless statements about the coronavirus here.

A preprint scientific manuscript published Jan. 31 by a group of Indian researchers suggested that the virus, known as COVID-19, may have been deliberately engineered using the HIV. The findings, which fed conspiracy theories that the new virus might be a bioweapon, have sparked a huge controversy. The authors withdrew the paper on Feb. 2 from the bioRxiv preprint server.

Disinfo: Crimea rejoined the embrace of Russia

Crimea rejoined the embrace of Russia.

Feb 26, 2020
Disproof

This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Crimea did not "return" to Russia but was illegally annexed by Moscow.