Investigative Report: Local Testimonies Uncover Incitement Networks in Syria

The website “Delil24” obtained exclusive recordings of the testimony of Anwar Abdul Fattah Al-Abdullah, 30 years old, from the village of Um al-Rabee’a  that is affiliated with Amuda in Hasakah, revealing his motives and movements within the context of recent events in Syria.

Anwar, of Ghamar origin, worked as an English language teacher for the Self-Management since 2019, then joined to “Al-Youm” TV channel in 2021. With the fall of the regime, Anwar aspired to a position within the emerging state, which prompted him to travel to Damascus.

In Damascus, Anwar roamed Marjeh Square and the Umawi Mosque, where he met a man named Bashar. While wandering through Al-Hamidiyah Souq, he noticed the sale of ISIS insignias and people wearing them, alongside badges bearing the Turkish flag. Bashar offered to help him and asked him to join a gathering in Mazzeh. However, Anwar, seeking quick opportunities, hesitated due to slow procedures through a link that Bashar sent to him, and decided to travel to Idlib, which he believed was the center of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and has better opportunities.

In Idlib, Anwar felt uncomfortable. He noticed the widespread presence of women in niqabs/Burka`a and bearded individuals wearing ISIS insignias or the Turkish flag, some of whom were Uyghurs, roaming in vehicles equipped with DShKs machine guns. He faced difficulties dealing with the Syrian pound, as he was asked to convert it to Turkish lira. At the General Security center, he witnessed tension and the expulsion of people, which prompted him to immediately return to Damascus, then to Hasakah.

After his return, Anwar contacted Bashar, who was a liaison with intelligence agencies. Through a fake Facebook account, Anwar posted inciting content against the Self-Management, driven by personal resentment toward the SDF.

In an audio recording, Bashar asked: “When will you come to have lunch with us?” referring to liberating the area. He followed incitement pages and posted content aimed at destabilizing the Self-Management, hoping that the new Damascus government would replace it.

Anwar’s confessions reveal organized incitement networks exploiting personal ambitions and social divisions to fuel the conflict in Syria.

This narrative highlights the dangers of the spread of extremist ideologies and the role of social media in mobilizing individuals, calling for societal vigilance to prevent youth from being drawn into cycles of violence.