Has Assad Been Poisoned in Russia? What We Know

Jan 02, 2025 at 1:33 PM EST

A Russian Telegram channel has claimed that Bashar al Assad may have been poisoned, sparking online speculation about the fate of the Syrian dictator after he fled to Moscow following his downfall.

The claim was made by General SVR, which says it is run by former and current members of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, although it does not offer any evidence of these ties.

It has been the source of unsubstantiated but dramatic reports about Vladimir Putin's health that have been previously reported internationally.

In a post written on its Russian and English language channels on Tuesday, it said "there is every reason to believe that an assassination attempt was made" on Assad, adding that he had complained to his security team "about feeling unwell, having trouble breathing, and asked for medical help."

moar: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-syria-assad-poisoned-assassination-2008576