Pages and accounts on social media circulated a post claiming the death of Syrian Energy Minister, engineer Mohammad al-Bashir, after suffering a heart attack on the evening of Saturday 8 August and being taken to a hospital in the capital Damascus.
The fact-checking team reviewed the available sources and statements linked to the report and found no announcement or official statement confirming the death of the minister or any health incident requiring hospitalization. A source close to the minister also confirmed, in remarks to al-Watan newspaper, that the circulating rumors about a health incident or hospitalization were untrue, stressing that he is in good health and continues to carry out his duties normally. A review of official platforms and relevant bodies found no official confirmation supporting the circulating claim.
Why is this claim false?
Fabricated news: The report of the death of the minister was circulated without reliance on any official source or reliable evidence, while a source close to him denied the allegations and confirmed his safety, leaving the claim without basis.
