The Truth Behind the Circulating Video of Atef Najib’s Arrest: What Really Happened?

A video has been widely shared on social media, claiming to show the moment of Atef Najib’s arrest along with a group of intelligence officers from the deposed Syrian regime. This follows an announcement by the General Security Directorate under the Ministry of Interior confirming Najib’s arrest on Friday, January 31.

However, we debunked this claim in an investigation published across its platforms. A detailed analysis found that the video had already been circulating on social media at least three days before the official announcement of Najib’s arrest, ruling out any direct connection between the footage and the event.  

Where Was the Video Filmed?  

The footage was recorded inside the Awareness Association for Social Services building in Deir Khabiyah, a town in the Kisweh district of Rural Damascus. The investigation team at Verify Syria confirmed the location by matching visible landmarks in the video with publicly available images on social media, using open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools.  

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When Was the Video Taken?  

According to multiple sources, the video was filmed on January 12, following a security operation carried out by armed, masked individuals in Deir Khabiyah. Eyewitnesses reported that the armed group did not present any official documents, warrants, or legal justification for the detentions. Several individuals were taken into custody without formal charges and were later released within 48 hours.  

During this time, residents of the town reported incidents of personal belongings being stolen from searched properties. However, Tafkek was unable to independently verify these claims.

Who Were the Detainees?

Confidential sources, whose identities remain undisclosed for security reasons, confirmed that around 12 individuals were detained. All of them were from the Sunni community, with some being former conscripts in the deposed regime’s military who had undergone reconciliation agreements after its fall. Others were civilians.  

What Happened After the Arrest?  

The detainees were transferred to an undisclosed detention facility, believed to have been a former security site of the deposed regime. They were later released blindfolded after an unspecified period in custody.  

Our team reached out to two official sources from the new Syrian administration, requesting a response from the Ministry of Interior or the General Security Directorate regarding the incident. However, as of the time of publication, no official statement had been provided. Verify Syria remains committed to sharing any updates or official responses as soon as they are received.