Syria is experiencing one of the deadliest episodes in its 14-year conflict. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 973 civilians were killed in more than 20 locations across the Latakia, Tartus and Hama governorates in recent days. The Observatory noted that most of the civilians killed were from the country's Alawite religious minority.

The violence erupted after loyalists of ousted dictator Bashar Assad ambushed a Syrian security patrol last week. This led to intense clashes and a series of revenge killings targeting Assad's Alawite sect. But civilians from other groups were also reportedly killed.

In breaking news situations like this one, which is also very emotional, many videos and images are being spread online. While some are showing the current atrocities in Syria, many are fake or spread without or in the wrong context. DW's Fact Check team looked at some viral claims.

Claim: "Islamist jihadists are crucifying Christians in Syria while the Vatican and certain cardinals celebrate Ramadan," a viral post on X says, adding a photo that shows that alleged scene. Several posts andonline articles repeat that claim.

DW Fact check: False.

The photo is actually a screenshot from an old video, and it's not related to the current events in Syria. In the video, you can see how the person behind the man on the cross shoots at his head. We haven't added the link here because it's too graphic and cruel to watch. A quick reverse image search shows that the video dates back to at least 2017. We weren't able to verify where exactly these cruel scenes took place.

Coming back to the current events in Syria, on social media it's widely spread that Christians have been a main target in the last attacks of the HTS rebels. But there's no proof for that. On the contrary: Christian leaders released a........

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