The Assad regime in Syria has strategically employed disinformation campaigns to obscure the truth about the chemical attacks it perpetrated, complicating humanitarian efforts and undermining public health.

"As Syrians marked the 11th anniversary of the August 21, 2013 deadly chemical attacks on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, disinformation campaigns continue to obscure the deadly legacy of these events. The Assad regime weaponized misinformation to maintain opacity around its war crimes, confuse narratives, evade accountability, and eventually ensure its survival. This manipulation hindered urgent medical and humanitarian interventions, and undermined public trust in the health sector, hampering its ability to effectively respond to health crises.

The attacks were the deadliest chemical assaults in recent history; representing a watershed moment in the use of chemical weapons. The failure of the international response to hold the regime responsible opened the door for further assaults, such as those in Khan Sheikhoun in March 2017 and Douma in March 2018. 

This article explores the strategic use of disinformation to manipulate public perceptions around the Assad regime’s chemical attacks and its ramifications for the public health sector." 

Read the complete paper: Salma Daoudi, "Behind the Smoke: How Disinformation Surrounding Syria’s Chemical Attacks Undermines Public Health." August 22, 2024. 

This article is part of a collaborative project on misinformation and disinformation in the Arab world between the Arabi Facts Hub(AFH) and the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP).