Syrian government troops launched a rapid offensive into Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria, seizing key towns, oilfields and infrastructure once controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). After days of clashes, a ceasefire was agreed on January 18–20, with the SDF set to withdraw and discuss integration into state institutions as Damascus regains territorial control.
In the above context, an image is being widely shared on social media in which sweets are kept in a tray with the image of the Syrian flag beside some Arabic text, which, when translated into English, reads, “From Gaza, celebrating the liberation of Syria from the SDF.”
A social media user shared the image with a caption that reads, “Sweets for Terror. Gazans celebrations for isis breaking from prisons in Syria. After the STG besieged and releasing of ISIS. #GazaNow”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral images have been edited. The original photos show Palestinians in Gaza celebrating Abu Shabab’s death.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that a similar image was shared by an Instagram page, presstv. highlights, Iran state-controlled media, on December 4, 2025. The caption associated with the image reads, “Gazans in Khan Yunis distribute sweets to celebrate the killing of Israeli-backed militant Yasser Abu Shabab in Rafah.”
We compared the viral image with the original image. In the original image, we saw that the left image is of a man in a blue shirt, a yellow jacket and a cap. While on the right, a text is written in Arabic, which, when translated, reads, “Celebrating the death of the pig Abu Shabashab, may he go to hell and what a terrible fate!”
The original image was also shared by the X account of QUDSN.net on December 4, 2025. The bio section of the X account suggests that QUDSN.net is an independent media service, Palestinian in affiliation, youthful in composition, with the emblem of the complete image of Palestine, and it is a free platform committed to objectivity and professionalism.
The caption associated with the image reads, “Distribution of sweets in Gaza; in celebration of the killing of the ‘Israeli man,’ the agent Yasser Abu Shabab.”
Using this information, we searched with relevant keywords and found that Yasser Abu Shabab, leader of the Israel-backed Popular Forces militia in the Gaza Strip, was killed on December 4, 2025, during clashes in Rafah. Once jailed and later armed to oppose Hamas, he was widely seen by Palestinians as a collaborator accused of looting aid and undermining resistance. His death exposes fractures in militia alliances amid the ongoing conflict.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.