DISINFO: White Helmets created by Western intelligence, have links to terrorist organisations
SUMMARY
The White Helmets are supported by the West, helped by Israel, and are also moving freely in areas controlled by terrorist organisations, fabricating and falsifying news images and feeding on foreign money, while some say that it is the fruit of Western intelligence work.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the association of the White Helmets with terrorism in Syria. The claim that the White Helmets are the creation of“Western intelligence work” is unsubstantiated and constitutes a groundless conspiracy theory. The White Helmets are a volunteer search and rescue organization made up of a group of Syrian civilians who mobilized to help war casualties in Syria, namely injured civilians trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The organisation - which is made up of 3,400 volunteers including teachers, engineers, tailors and firefighters - states that it has no affiliation to any political or military actor and is committed to render services to anyone in need. See here, here and here for background on Russian disinformation campaigns against the White Helmets.