Thread by @VanessaBeeley

1. Has Syria Direct uncovered plans for staged chemical weapon provocation in #Hasaka? Ad appeared in Syrian Observer & FB pages, NGOs for volunteers 4 "documentary". Families, women, children preferred. Apply on WhatsApp. Syria Direct applied. @RenieriArts @21WIRE

2. Advert also appeared on "opposition" sites. SD applied under name of Latifa wth children - Location nr Assad camp under control of US military. Applicants were told they wld be 'victims of tragedy' & 'simulate overdose frm pills & have make-up applied'. @RenieriArts

3. "Screenshot of the conversation on WhatsApp between Ahmed Fadli and a Syrian woman who provided us with the information for the investigation" say Syria Direct. Significant number of people applied, attracted by poss of payment, but gave info to SD for investigation. ⬇️

4. "While searching for work, many people stumble upon these proposals, contact the potential employer and make appropriate conclusions. In particular, many users ask their friends not to respond to the vacancy, as they suspect the other staging with the use of chemical weapons"

5. One comment on application post on FB, "Why don’t they use chemicals for a more realistic picture, and then finish off surviving witnesses if they do not die from poisoning?”

I have not had time to verify the translations of Arabic screenshots so any input would be appreciated but I felt it was important to share this Syria Direct report in light of importance of potential threat of a further chemical provocation in NE as Russia has already warned.

@threadreaderapp

My apologies to @Inside_Syria - Inside Syria Media Center and Sophie Mangal who released this investigation NOT ‘Syria Direct’ my bad 🙏 thank you for this work!

Thank you all 🙏❤️