CNN Faces Backlash After “Rescued Prisoner” Revealed as Assad Regime Intelligence Officer

CNN is facing intense criticism and calls for an apology after a report showcasing the “rescue” of a Syrian prisoner turned out to be a former intelligence officer for the Bashar al-Assad regime, Al Jazeera reports.

The report, aired Thursday, featured correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team discovering a “hidden prisoner” in a Damascus prison following the recent opposition takeover.

The video depicted a man, identified as Adel Gharbal from Homs, cowering under a blanket and claiming to be a civilian. However, the Syrian fact-checking platform Verify Sy, and subsequently CNN’s own investigation, revealed the man’s true identity as Salama Mohammad Salama, a first lieutenant in Syrian Air Force Intelligence.

Verify Sy reported that residents of Homs identified Salama, also known as “Abu Hamza,” as a notorious figure frequently stationed at a western checkpoint in the city. They also contradicted Salama’s claim of three months’ imprisonment for a phone search, saying that his incarceration was for less than a month on extortion-related charges.

Ward, who said in her report that the team was searching for missing American journalist Austin Tice, described the encounter as “one of the most extraordinary moments” of her career on X (formerly Twitter). However, a community note now appended to her post reveals Salama’s true identity and background.

The report sparked immediate suspicion online. Users pointed to Salama’s seemingly well-groomed appearance – including “perfectly manicured nails” and clean clothes – as inconsistent with a recently liberated prisoner. Accusations of the incident being staged have also surfaced.

CNN admitted it was unaware of Salama’s background and has been unable to contact him since the initial report. The network is currently re-examining its reporting process in light of the controversy. Many are demanding a formal apology for the inaccuracies and misleading nature of the original broadcast.