@ GNΩME
2025-02-18 09:07:03
For those who still trust mainstream narratives about war and foreign intervention, the Douma chemical attack story should serve as a wake-up call. The official version of events—that Syrian government forces carried out a chemical attack on civilians in Douma on April 7, 2018—has been thoroughly dismantled by whistleblowers, independent journalists, and even leaked documents from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Yet, despite [mounting evidence]( https://thegrayzone.com/2018/03/06/media-propaganda-battle-syria-eastern-ghouta/), mainstream media and Western governments continue to push the debunked narrative, using it to justify military interventions and sustain the illusion of moral authority. This article revisits the Douma deception, breaking down how the false flag operation unfolded and how the truth was systematically suppressed.
### A Timeline of the Manufactured Crisis
#### April 7, 2018: The Alleged Chemical Attack
On this day, as the Syrian Army engaged terrorist insurgents in Douma, [shocking videos surfaced]( https://youtu.be/sYItxxEO3F8) online showing alleged victims of a chemical attack. Without proper investigation, Western leaders seized on the footage as proof of an [atrocity committed]( https://web.archive.org/web/20200304211152/https://eg.usembassy.gov/united-states-assessment-of-the-assad-regimes-chemical-weapons-use/) by the Assad government.
Within 24 hours, then-President Donald Trump tweeted about "Animal Assad" and vowed that Russia and Iran would "pay a big price." This swift response echoed past war propaganda, reminiscent of the lies used to justify the invasion of Iraq.
#### April 14, 2018: The Bombing of Syria Begins
Less than a week after the alleged attack, the [United States]( https://youtu.be/w43ok0q5G5A), [France, and Britain launched coordinated missile strikes]( https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-launches-missile-strikes-in-syria/2018/04/13/c68e89d0-3f4a-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html) on Syrian government targets. Shockingly, these airstrikes were carried out before any independent investigation had even begun.
Meanwhile, on the same day, OPCW investigators arrived in Syria to examine the supposed chemical attack site. In a grotesque display of arrogance, the West had already punished Syria for a crime that hadn't been proven.
#### April 17, 2018: Doubts Emerge
Veteran journalist [Robert Fisk visited Douma]( https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/syria-chemical-attack-gas-douma-robert-fisk-ghouta-damascus-a8307726.html) and interviewed a local doctor who revealed that the victims shown in viral videos had actually died from suffocation—not chemical weapons. The doctor described how panic and dust inhalation in underground shelters had led to casualties, but no traces of nerve agents like **sarin** were found.
#### July 6, 2018: OPCW’s Initial Report Undermines the Official Story
The OPCW released its [interim findings]( https://www.opcw.org/media-centre/news/2018/07/opcw-issues-fact-finding-mission-reports-chemical-weapons-use-allegations), confirming that:
> No organophosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products were detected, either in the environmental samples or in plasma samples from the alleged casualties.
And while:
> Various chlorinated organic chemicals were found in samples from Locations 2 and 4, along with residues of explosive
the report makes no mention of the concentrations or levels of those chemicals.
In Addition the "Annex 2" (Open Sources) is blank.
In Annex 3 where all chemicals are listed, there is no chemical weapon agent listed.
Despite this, Western media and politicians continued to push the idea that Syria had used chemical weapons.
#### February–March 2019: Whistleblower Confirms Staged Hospital Footage
In a stunning revelation, [BBC producer Riam Dalati]( https://youtu.be/fFLRX5ZiEvo) tweeted that the viral hospital scene—depicting victims being hosed down—had been **staged**. This meant that at least part of the so-called evidence was a fabrication.
Shortly after, the OPCW issued its [final report]( https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/03/s-1731-2019%28e%29.pdf). While it acknowledged a lack of sarin,
> No organophosphorous nerve agents, their degradation products or synthesis impurities were detected [...] it is not currently possible to precisely link the cause of the signs and symptoms to a specific chemical
it ambiguously suggested that "a toxic chemical containing reactive chlorine" was likely used. This vague wording allowed Western governments to continue their accusations without hard proof.
#### May 2019: Leaked OPCW Report Exposes a Cover-Up
A [leaked engineering assessment]( https://web.archive.org/web/20190514174330/http://syriapropagandamedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Engineering-assessment-of-two-cylinders-observed-at-the-Douma-incident-27-February-2019-1.pdf) by an OPCW sub-team completely contradicted the official findings. It concluded that the two cylinders found at the scene **were likely manually placed rather than dropped from aircraft**—suggesting [the incident was staged]( https://youtu.be/FU24r2zWVQo).
Instead of addressing this bombshell revelation, [OPCW leadership focused]( https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/2019/06/Remarks%20of%20the%20Director-General%20Briefing%20for%20States%20Parties%20on%20Syrian%20Arab%20Republic%20Update%20on%20IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT_1.pdf) on investigating **how the leak happened** rather than the damning content of the report itself.
#### October–November 2019: More Whistleblowers Speak Out
On October 15th, 2019, the [Courage Foundation]( https://web.archive.org/web/20191024045128/https://couragefound.org/2019/10/opcw-panel-statement/) "convened a panel of concerned individuals from the fields of disarmament, international law, journalism, military operations, medicine and intelligence in Brussels".
The whistleblower giving an "extensive presentation, including internal emails, text exchanges and suppressed draft reports..." describes "efforts to exclude some inspectors from the investigation whilst thwarting their attempts to raise legitimate concerns, highlight irregular practices or even to express their differing observations and assessments".
The panel "became convinced by the testimony that key information about chemical analyses, toxicology consultations, ballistics studies, and witness testimonies was suppressed, ostensibly to favor a preordained conclusion" and expressed unanimous alarm about "unacceptable practices in the investigation".
[Another OPCW whistleblower]( https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/11/15/the-opcw-and-douma-chemical-weapons-watchdog-accused-of-evidence-tampering-by-its-own-inspectors/), referred to as "Alex", a member of this fact finding mission, confirmed that key evidence had been suppressed. He revealed that:
"_the signs and symptoms of victims were not consistent with poisoning from chlorine_".
Instead of an attack producing multiple fatalities there had been “_a non chemical-related event_”.
His findings, which undermined the official narrative, were removed from the final report.
At this point, multiple independent voices—including journalists, scientists, and former OPCW officials—had exposed the [Douma deception]( https://wikileaks.org/opcw-douma/#Internal%20OPCW%20E-Mail). But the mainstream media either ignored or actively discredited these revelations.
### How the Media and Government Covered It Up
When whistleblowers and [journalists]( https://youtu.be/ojItF6MGL-0) challenged the official story, mainstream outlets worked overtime to discredit them. The propaganda network [Bellingcat]( https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2019/11/25/emails-and-reading-comprehension-opcw-douma-coverage-misses-crucial-facts/) published a weak "debunking" article, which was swiftly dismantled by independent journalist [Caitlin Johnstone]( https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/11/27/narrative-managers-faceplant-in-hilarious-opcw-scandal-spin-job/) and veteran columnist [Peter Hitchens]( https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2019/11/my-response-to-the-bellingcat-attempt-to-spin-away-the-devastating-implications-of-the-opcw-douma-leak-i-have.html).
Rather than confronting the facts, the OPCW and its backers dismissed the leaks as unimportant or "[Russian disinformation]( https://www.cbsnews.com/news/opcw-chemical-weapons-watchdog-douma-chlorine-gas-wikileaks-russia-syria-claim-bias-today-2019-11-25/)"—a predictable smear tactic used whenever official narratives collapse.
### Why This Matters
The Douma deception is not just an academic debate—it had real-world consequences. The false flag attack was used to justify military aggression against Syria, escalating tensions in the Middle East and prolonging unnecessary suffering.
More importantly, it serves as a case study in how governments and media manufacture consent for war. By exposing these propaganda tactics, we can resist manipulation and prevent future conflicts based on lies.
The Douma hoax is just one example of how false narratives are weaponized to justify military interventions. The same playbook has been used time and again—from Iraq’s "Weapons of Mass Destruction" to Libya’s "humanitarian intervention."
If people learn to recognize propaganda before it leads to war, we can disrupt the cycle of deception. The truth is out there—we just need the courage to face it.