Kashaf traced the origin of images and clips circulated by Iraqi accounts as the current protests in Syria escalated, some of which were presented as live documentation of what is happening on the ground, while they in fact date back to previously documented Syrian events. This investigation tracks a pattern of recycling this material that altered its time frame and tied it to political events and narratives that do not reflect its original context.
Scenes from the Past Creeping into the Protests
Kashaf monitored Iraqi accounts recirculating images and video clips from previously documented Syrian events, a circulation that coincided with the escalation of the current protests in Syria. Part of this material was presented as live documentation of what is currently happening on the ground, as the reposts carried no reference to the actual date or the original circumstances of the material.
How the Context Was Recycled
The matter did not stop at republishing: these scenes were linked, deliberately or hastily, to ongoing developments on the ground, and recent descriptions were added that made them appear directly connected to the current protests. Some posts also went beyond showing the images and videos, tying the material to deteriorating living conditions amid criticism directed at the Syrian government and President Ahmed al-Sharaa, so that old visual content blended with a recent news description and a political discourse accompanying the post.
Old Footage Inside a New Narrative
Three cases traced by Kashaf show how old footage was inserted into a new narrative: each dates back to a different time and event, yet all were presented as recent material tied to the current scene, as follows:
- First case: an image claimed to document the desecration of a picture of Ahmed al-Sharaa during a demonstration in Idlib, while its source dates back to 2024.
- Second case: a video of an elderly Syrian man recycled as carrying a recent message to the president, although it was recorded years ago.
- Third case: a clip rebroadcast as documentation of the storming of police stations, before it emerged that it relates to events in areas of eastern Syria in March.
Iraq's Alawla TV as a Case Study
Kashaf traced the activity of the account of the Iraqi channel Alawla TV on social media, an account with nearly 3 million followers that, during the protests, published material it presented as field updates from Syria. Part of this material turned out to date back to earlier events unrelated to the current period, which is especially significant given the size of the audience following the account.
From an Isolated Case to a Recurring Pattern
The incident was neither isolated nor limited to a single piece of material: scenes from the archive of Syrian events were repeatedly used in parallel with the ongoing protests, and while the material varied, the way it was marketed within the current context remained constant and uniform. Kashaf found no link between the circulated material and the current protests, as it dates back to varied dates and events, including 2024, the events of March, and content published years ago.
Original Content in a Different Time Frame
The cases traced by Kashaf show that what was recycled was original content, placed within a time frame entirely different from its real context: the story began with scenes from earlier Syrian events that were recirculated alongside the current protests. Tying them to the present moment changed the way viewers may understand the nature of this material, which makes the question of a clip's date and original circumstances an essential part of reading it.
