CNN Faces Scrutiny Over Misidentified Syrian Prisoner

CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward faced backlash after the network confirmed that a prisoner they rescued from a Syrian jail, initially identified as 'Adel Gharbal', is actually Salama Mohammad Salama, a first lieutenant in Bashar al-Assad’s Air Force Intelligence, accused of war crimes including torture and extortion. The man, found in a detention facility, had presented himself as a civilian, but fact-checkers from Verify-Sy revealed his true identity, leading CNN to investigate further. The network utilized facial recognition software to verify Salama's identity, acknowledging he had a notorious past involving the killing of civilians and coercing locals into informant roles. Following the release of this information, Salama reportedly deactivated his social media accounts and changed his contact details. CNN admitted that they were misled by the prisoner and are continuing to report on the wider implications of this incident. The fallout has raised questions about the network's journalistic integrity and vetting processes.