Old Video of Syrian Drills Resurfaces Amid Clashes with Opposition Factions
The Claim
Syrian Army carried out a heliborne operation against terrorists to regain control over several strategic positions in Hama.
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After Syrian opposition forces captured the key city of Hama, social media users widely shared a video purporting to show the Syrian Army conducting a heliborne operation against opposition factions to retake several strategic positions in Hama.
An X user posted the video with the caption, “Syrian Army carried out a heliborne operation against terrorists to regain control over several strategic positions in Hama.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.
After conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar’s team found the video to be older than claimed.
The Outdated Video Shows Syrian Forces Drills
Contrary to the circulating claim, the video is unrelated to the ongoing clashes between Syrian opposition factions and Syrian regime forces.
Misbar’s investigative team traced the original footage to October 5, 2023.
A YouTube media channel uploaded the video, showing Syrian special forces conducting parachute drills with Russian military aircraft.
Another YouTube channel uploaded a video showing drill scenes from October 5, 2023. The scenes show Syrian special forces carrying out parachute training using Russian military aircraft.
Syrian Forces Conduct Parachute Drills With Russian Aircraft
Reuters reported, citing Russia's defense ministry, that Syrian special forces troops carried out over 1,500 parachute jumps over the Mediterranean Sea and the Aleppo and Latakia provinces.
The drills were part of training drills with Russian military aircraft conducted on October 5, 2023.
Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, along with Iran, played a pivotal role in turning the tide of the decade-long conflict in favor of the Assad regime.
The military ministry released video footage showing Syrian troops leaping from Russian planes and helicopters, including the Syrian Arab Army's first mass landing at night from an IL-76 aircraft.
The defense ministry said that “Servicemen of the Russian group of troops in Syria ensured the execution of a comprehensive exercise for Syrian special forces units.”
As Rebels Seize Hama and Advance, Thousands Flee Syrian City Homs
Rebel forces launched the largest offensive against Syria's government in years last week, capturing Hama in the north on Thursday and capturing Aleppo the previous week.
Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), told Homs residents, “Your time has come.” The opposition factions advanced south, with Homs expected to be their next target on the way to Damascus, according to the BBC.
Amid reports that rebels are closing in, tens of thousands of people are fleeing Syria’s third-largest city, Homs.
Russia and Iran, Assad's most important allies, reaffirmed their support for him amid clashes against the opposition factions.
The SOHR said Russian warplanes bombed a bridge in Rastan to try and slow the rebel advance.
Since the offensive began nine days ago, SOHR reports that over 820 people have been killed across the country, including 111 civilians.
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