A video shared on X purports to show former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visiting his aunt’s home in Moscow, Russia.

وتلك الأيام نداولها بين الناس، حقيقة الدنيا دوارة، فهل من مدكر؟. بشار الأسد في زيارة لعمته ببيتها المتواضع في موسكو بجمهورية روسيا التي لجأ إليها. pic.twitter.com/bQTqLoA1pm

— Hassan Bahar (@HassanB16621695) December 22, 2024

Verdict: False

The claim is false, as the video shows al-Assad visiting a wounded member of the Syrian Army in Hama in 2017.

Fact Check:

A Qatar Airways flight landed Tuesday at Damascus International Airport, making it the first international commercial flight to land in Syria since al-Assad was ousted, according to The Associated Press. Al-Assad was overthrown as a result of a “rebel offensive,” the outlet reported.

“Bashar al-Assad visits his aunt in her modest home in Moscow, in the Russian Republic, where he has taken refuge,” a translation of the video’s caption reads. In the video, al-Assad can be seen greeting both a young boy and a woman before entering their home. al-Assad is wearing a blue shirt with white polka dots and blue jeans.

The claim is false. The original video, shared via the Syrian Presidency’s official Facebook page, shows al-Assad visiting a wounded member of the Syrian Army in Hama in 2017. The Facebook video shows al-Assad greeting the same young boy and woman before entering their home. The former Syrian President’s outfit matches that of the clip shared on X. Besides Facebook, the video was also shared on the Syrian Presidency’s official YouTube channel in 2018.

“The hero Ayham Mahmoud Dunya was unable to walk after his injury. He received President #Assad and his family today, walking on his feet. The Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic,” an English translation of the video’s description reads.

According to the Syria Times, al-Assad visited “wounded soldiers [including Dunya who] were injured while defending their homeland against takfiri terrorism.” (RELATED: Does This Video Show A Christmas Day Attack In West Bank?)

Likewise, on Dec. 24, 2024, Logically Facts debunked the claim, indicating the original video was from 2017 and showed al-Assad visiting wounded soldiers.

Al-Assad was overthrown as President of Syria in December 2024, according to The Associated Press.