CNN Admits Mistake in Syrian Prisoner Story After Identity Misrepresented

A man portrayed as a freed civilian in a viral CNN report was later identified as a former Assad regime intelligence officer.

CNN's December 11 report featured a man claiming to be a civilian prisoner freed from a Damascus jail, later revealed to be Salama Mohammad Salama, a former Syrian Air Force intelligence officer.
The man initially identified himself as Adel Ghurbal and alleged he had been imprisoned for three months, unaware of the regime's collapse.
Syrian fact-checking group Verify-Sy and local residents exposed Salama's true identity, describing his history of extortion, torture, and other abuses under the Assad regime.
CNN confirmed the error after using facial recognition software and speaking with witnesses, acknowledging the challenges of verifying information in conflict zones.
The incident has sparked criticism of CNN's journalistic practices, with the network defending the authenticity of its footage while committing to further investigation.