# Breaking: Assad poisoned in Russia? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2025, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509 "2025-01-03T04:26:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/1 "2025-01-03T04:26:07Z")
I’m seeing this report on sites with varying levels of credibility, but each story cites back to one source. [Here’s the story as reported by Newsweek:](https://www.newsweek.com/russia-syria-assad-poisoned-assassination-2008576) > A Russian Telegram channel has claimed that Bashar al Assad may have been poisoned, sparking online speculation about the fate of the Syrian dictator after he fled to Moscow following his downfall. > > The claim was made by General SVR, which says it is run by former and current members of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, although it does not offer any evidence of these ties. > > It has been the source of unsubstantiated but dramatic reports about [Vladimir Putin](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/vladimir-putin)’s health that have been previously reported internationally. > > In a post written on its Russian and English language channels on Tuesday, it said “there is every reason to believe that an assassination attempt was made” on Assad, adding that he had complained to his security team “about feeling unwell, having trouble breathing, and asked for medical help.” According to this source, Assad was tested and poison was found; he’s been treated and is said to be recovering. Further details at the Newsweek cite, which points out it’s still seeking confirmation from official sources. Is it true? I daresay if it’s legit there’ll be more to come confirming it. Right now it’s buzzing around online. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/2 "2025-01-03T05:12:31Z")
Not seeing any mention of it on the Associated Press at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/3 "2025-01-03T08:03:36Z")
He’d be well advised to stay at ground level in any building he ingresses. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/4 "2025-01-03T10:12:14Z")
Hell, if I were him I’d be scooching around with my butt on the ground, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/5 "2025-01-03T15:08:43Z")
“there is every reason to believe” doesn’t exactly have the ring of authority. Sounds like it could be another “unsubstantiated but dramatic report”. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/6 "2025-01-03T15:13:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > He’d be well advised to stay at ground level in any building he ingresses. Sadly, I believe the Russian modus operandi is that, like gays in ISIS-land, you will be brought to the necessary elevation whether you like it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/7 "2025-01-03T15:32:06Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > He’d be well advised to stay at ground level in any building he ingresses. Wasn’t a Russian general at ground level when he was walked out of his building a few weeks ago, right past a parked scooter? ---
**Author:** ![Nightaudit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightaudit/32/17181_2.png) [@Nightaudit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightaudit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/8 "2025-01-03T18:52:47Z")
I would think Putin would keep Assad as a bargaining chip for maintaining his position in Syria… you know tell the new regime “if you sign the deal and let us stay in Tartus… we’ll hand him and his family over to you and guys can have a trial” some sort of deal like that. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-assad-poisoned-in-russia/1012509/9 "2025-01-03T19:12:39Z")
Poison has worked for the Russians before. Russians also like radiation. Don’t drink the tea! ~VOW