Circulated Claim: An image allegedly showing Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa in intensive care at a hospital in Turkey after being shot recently.

The Claim: False.

The Truth: The image was generated using artificial intelligence, based on an old photo from 2020.

Al-Sharaa appeared in the image with eyes closed, lying on a hospital bed with a breathing tube. The image circulated on social media, claiming it was “from the heart of a hospital in Ankara.”

The image circulated with false claims (Facebook)

Reality Check: The video and image circulated as rumors that “Al-Sharaa was in intensive care in Turkey following an assassination attempt.” However, no credible sources verified this, and the circulation was limited to social media. 

Hive Moderation analysis indicated the video was likely AI-generated with 88.4% probability.

DeepFake-O-Meter (University at Buffalo) classified the video as fabricated: facial forgery detection at 45.91%, Wav2lip tool at 68.89%, and overall deepfake probability at 99.9%.

The original image used in the AI video was posted on Dr. Fahad Hamed Al-Anazi’s X account on October 17, 2020, depicting a coronavirus patient in intensive care. AI replaced the original patient’s face with Al-Sharaa’s.

Hive Moderation

DeepFake-O-Meter

The Rumor Context: The rumors emerged amid reports of clashes around the People’s Palace in Damascus on December 30, 2025. The Syrian presidency denied any assassination attempt or gunfire near the People’s Palace. Presidential media advisor Ahmad Mowafaq Zidan stated on X: “What the forces of evil wish for is pure lies and fabrications. I am well, thank God. A path we chose since our creation.”

The SANA agency also quoted security sources denying any explosions or gunfire in Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights expressed doubts about the official narrative but confirmed Al-Sharaa’s safety following the Ministry of Interior’s statement.

The original image posted on Dr. Al-Anazi's account on X, on October 17, 2020

Conclusion: The image and video are fabrications. Al-Sharaa remains in good health and continues his constitutional duties.