China says video of Syrian boy might be ‘fake’

China’s state broadcaster CCTV has questioned the video that went viral of Syrian Omran Daqneesh saying it might be part of Western “propaganda”, AFP reported.

The video showed Daqneesh being pulled from the rubble of his family home and carried onto an ambulance. It was taken after a Russian airstrike in Aleppo. The five-year-old, who was stained with blood and dust, was silent and looked stunned.

The US State Department called Daqneesh the “real face” of the war in Syria, where the Syrian regime, Iran, Hezbollah and Russia are targeting the opposition which has been calling for the removal of Al-Assad since 2011.

China supports the Syrian regime and senior Chinese and Syrian military officials met and discussed several issues last week. It is also close to Russia.

CCTV aired the video with the title “video suspected of being fake.” A reporter said: “Critics have suggested that [the video] is part of a propaganda war, aimed at creating a ‘humanitarian’ excuse for Western countries to become involved in Syria.”

“The workers did not make rapid rescue efforts, and instead quickly set up a camera.” Referring to the photographer who took the picture of the boy before he received any medical aid.