Soon after this photo, the boy was beheaded by the CIA-backed death squad Nour al-Din al-Zenki, which the U.S. considers "moderate rebels".
The photojournalist behind the viral images of '
the boy in the ambulance', which continue to make headlines around the world, has been identified by the
Associated Press (AP) as Mahmoud Raslan (also spelled Rslan). His photo of a shell-shocked boy who barely survived an airstrike in Aleppo has captured the hearts and emotions of millions and conveyed a powerful momentary glimpse into the senseless and horrific devastation endured by Syria's innocent children. But while some praise Raslan, he appears to have some horrific skeletons in his own closet.
Skeleton #1
Raslan's social media history reveals a bizarre twist, which demonstrates the ironies and complexities of the Syrian conflict.
The photographer has posted photos of himself posing with known child-killers from another recent viral moment: the infamous filmed beheading of a
12-year-old Palestinian boy captured in Aleppo by the 'Zenki' militant group.
The Palestinian boy, filmed surrounded by his Zenki executioners in the back of a pick-up truck just prior to his beheading, had been reportedly
removed from a hospital and had intravenous lines (IV) attached to him.
Comment: One more skeleton: In a video he posted to Facebook he speaks to various fellow 'rebels'. In the second half of the video (presumably he's the one shooting the footage), he speaks with a rebel wearing Daesh's logo on his vest:
See also: The boy in the ambulance: US State Dept-funded groups behind latest 'iconic image' designed to demonize Russia and encourage further bloodshed in Syria