The resumption of Russian airstrikes on Idlib, Syria has sparked coordinated online activities between opponents and supporters of the Syrian revolution, fuelled by the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.

The resumption of Russian airstrikes on Idlib, Syria has sparked coordinated online activities between opponents and supporters of the Syrian revolution, fuelled by the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
Throughout October 2024, Russia intensified its airstrikes in Syria’s rural Idlib, targeting what it describes as military positions of opposition factions. In contrast, organizations such as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported civilian casualties from strikes on non-military sites.

Idlib and its neighboring areas are considered the last refuge for those fleeing Syria’s civil war. UN statistics estimate there are currently over five million people in the area. Observers suggest the heightened airstrikes followed reports that Jabhat Al Nusra was preparing an offensive on government-held areas, taking advantage of unrest in Lebanon and the Palestinian occupied territories. Meanwhile, other analysts believe Russia aimed to assert its continued influence in the Syrian crisis.
Estimates indicate that Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham (formerly Jabhat Al Nusra) and its affiliated factions control roughly half of the Idlib province, an area included in de-escalation agreements signed between Turkey and Russia.

Since late September and through October 2024, several hashtags have emerged; some call for #Pursuing_Idlib_Agents, while others celebrate the Syrian government's use of barrel bombs during the war, such as #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors, which trended in Lebanon two days after Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s death on September 27, 2024.
The first hashtag included 318 posts, viewed approximately 75,000 times, while the second gathered 287 posts with at least 53,000 views, according to Meltwater, a social media content analysis tool.

Engagement Volume for Hashtags #Pursuing_Idlib_Agents and #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors – Meltwater

Incitement from Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi Accounts

Hundreds of accounts, some Syrian, Lebanese, and Iraqi, contributed to promoting the hashtags #Pursuing_Idlib_Agents and #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors. These accounts featured Syrian and Iraqi flags, as well as images of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, and former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in their bios. They also displayed logos of Iran-backed Iraqi factions such as the Popular Mobilization Forces and Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Some accounts identify as “social influencers” and carry the verified blue check-mark. These accounts have previously participated in online campaigns supporting the interests of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran.

The hashtag #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors was initiated by the account “Fatemiyoun Electronic Team” (@hakc93). A minute later, the account @hudaa_2004 urged others to participate in the hashtag with a sarcastic post stating, “These are the children of Syria killed by Hezbollah and Bashar Al Assad... Hashtag now active, join in tweeting #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors,” attaching an image attributed to Syrian opposition fighters.

The “Fatemiyoun Electronic Team” account describes itself as “a group of Husseini youth committed to defending the faith and its symbols, past and present, through cyberspace.” In its profile, it outlines its cyber missions: “Retrieving, Protecting, Disabling, Deleting,” indicating activities aimed at disrupting or deleting opposition accounts. This account actively participates in influence campaigns aligned with Iran-affiliated groups.

The launch of the hashtag #Assad_Barrels_Treatment_for_Traitors coincided with posts from Syrian revolution supporters gloating about Nasrallah’s death, given Hezbollah’s role in fighting alongside Syrian government forces against the Syrian uprising. Accounts participating in the hashtag circulated videos advocating for renewed use of barrel bombs in Idlib, a weapon deployed by the Syrian regime that caused civilian casualties throughout the conflict. One such video was an old clip showing the late Syrian activist Abdul Baset Al Sarout singing with Free Syrian Army fighters: “Khomeini, you will see tomorrow, the revolution’s army in thousands, speaking openly—we’re coming for you, Karbala.” Other posts referred to the Syrian president as “uncle of the believers” and “author of The Barrel Book for Taming Traitors.”

As part of the hashtag #Pursuing_Idlib_Agents, participating accounts promoted claims that citizens from Idlib were involved in Nasrallah’s assassination, alleging they leaked and photographed his location. These claims referenced videos showing arrests in the days following the assassination, along with praise for recent Russian strikes on Idlib.

The Lebanese army announced the arrest of two Syrians on charges of espionage for Israel, involving filming sites and documenting the aftermath of attacks. However, the Israeli army's statement did not mention their involvement in reporting Nasrallah’s location or that they are from Idlib.

Accounts displaying the Syrian flag used language that incites hatred and encouraged violence, labeling the residents of Idlib province as "Zionists," "rats," and "agents." 

Syrian Accounts Celebrate

Simaltaneously, Syrian accounts became active in response to the recent Russian air campaign on Idlib, posting criticisms of Hezbollah's role in Syria. These accounts also engaged in other hashtags celebrating the death of Nasrallah.

Among these, the hashtag #Bashar_and_Putin_War_Criminals gained prominence with 230 participating accounts, containing over a thousand tweets that garnered approximately 64,000 views, according to Meltwater.

Activity Periods of the Hashtag #Bashar_and_Putin_War_Criminals - Meltwater

Dozens of accounts referenced old videos from the years of the Syrian war, aimed at highlighting the violations committed by the Syrian regime and its allies, including Hezbollah. Recent footage of the Russian airstrikes also circulated, accompanied by comments expressing shock at the bombing of displacement camps in Idlib.

The account @shadoumeh became active on the hashtag #Bashar_and_Putin_War_Criminals, contributing to the amplification and promotion of the hashtag through participation and comments. The same account also promoted other hashtags, including #Glad_Its_Your_Turn, and #Iranian_Axis_of_Evil, which celebrated the news of Hassan Nasrallah's assassination.

Typically, the account @shadoumeh engages in electronic campaigns critical of Bashar Al Assad's government and supportive of the revolution, often utilizing a strategy of amplification and mobilization. Some of the accounts interacting with these hashtags claim to reside in opposition-held areas or outside Syria.