Misinformation Surrounding the Killing of an Officer in Homs: Fact-Checking the Claims

This artical was translated using artificial intelligence,the original language is Arabic

Circulating Claims

Recently, social media pages and accounts have shared a video claiming to show Major General Ali Tawfiq Dhahi, one of the officers allegedly killed by a criminal group in the village of Fahil in rural Homs. His death reportedly followed a security operation carried out by the General Security Forces affiliated with the new Syrian administration.

However, the video, which was extracted from a news report by the Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed, actually shows an officer in the deposed Syrian regime’s army discussing "armed militants killed during the battle to liberate the Al-Hosn Citadel." The footage also captures a warplane breaking the sound barrier during the interview.

Despite this, the video has been widely circulated with claims that it features Major General Ali Tawfiq Dhahi, whose name appeared on the list of casualties published by the "Peaceful Coexistence Group" in Homs. Those sharing the video describe him as a figure with a history of crimes and human rights violations against Syrians, linking his name to numerous atrocities committed during his tenure in oppressive security roles.

Refute the claim

The Verify-sy team, in collaboration with the Peaceful Coexistence Group in Syria, investigated the claim that spread after the new Syrian administration admitted to extrajudicial killings in Fahil. These killings were reportedly carried out by groups the administration referred to as “terrorist organizations.”

1/ The recent killings in the village of Fahl were confirmed to be carried out by criminal groups, not official factions or authorities. Security forces have since arrested several suspects, ensuring accountability. Here’s what we know so far: 🧵

— تَأكّدْ EN (@VeSyriaE) January 28, 2025

The investigation found that the claim was misleading and that the officer in the circulated video is actually a different individual.

Who is the Officer in the Al-Jadeed Video?

A reverse image search using the InVid tool revealed the original version of the video, first published on March 20, 2014, as part of a special report by Al-Jadeed correspondent Ramez Al-Qadi titled:
"Syrian Regime Forces Seize Al-Hosn Citadel in Rural Homs."

During the report, the correspondent conducted an interview with an officer he described as a colonel, without mentioning his name.

According to information collected from four independent sources, the officer appearing in the video is Colonel Ali Dhahi, who hails from a district near the town of Kartou in southern Tartous Governorate. He is known to be an officer in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate and has no familial connection to Major General Ali Tawfiq Dhahi, who was killed in the recent criminal incident in Fahil.

Further advanced searches using keywords related to the case confirmed that Colonel Ali Dhahi belongs to the Air Force Intelligence Directorate.

Who Was the Officer Killed in Fahil?

Eight independent sources in rural Homs confirmed that Major General Ali Tawfiq Dhahi was one of the victims of the criminal killings in Fahil. He was an engineering officer specializing in communications, held a master’s degree in telecommunications, and was serving as the head of the Military Communications and Signals Branch in Damascus.

He was a native of Fahil in rural Homs and had no familial connection to Colonel Ali Dhahi, who appeared in the Al-Jadeed video.

The investigation team obtained three photo/graphs of the deceased major general, all of which clearly show significant differences in facial features between him and the officer in the video, further debunking the false claim.

Investigation Team’s Statement

In times of crisis, misinformation can fuel divisions and hinder the pursuit of justice. We emphasize the importance of verifying facts before sharing claims, as truth is the foundation of accountability and social reconciliation.

Maintaining peaceful coexistence requires collective responsibility in seeking and defending the truth. It is essential to remember that investigating crimes and violations is the duty of judicial authorities and investigative bodies, not social media.

Spreading unverified videos or inaccurate accusations can endanger lives, particularly those who may share names or physical similarities with criminals. Additionally, misinformation can distract from holding the actual perpetrators accountable, ultimately hindering justice.