The Russian Ministry of Defense admitted that it used a footage from a computer game to prove the alleged cooperation between the United States and the Islamic State. Still, they offered other evidence. The alleged proof was first posted on Tuesday morning by the Russian Defense Ministry. It was a black and white photo portraying a view of multiple trucks allegedly leaving the village of Al-Bukamal, which is held by the Islamic State. But, the military research site Conflict Intelligence Team and investigative website Bellingcat pointed that the images were from a computer game called AC-130 Gunship Simulator: Special Ops Squadron and form an American footage from Iraq, made in 2016. That made the Ministry remove the post, Newsweek reports.
“The Russian Defense Ministry is investigating its civil service employee who erroneously attached wrong photo illustrations to its statement on interaction between the U.S.-led international coalition and Islamic State militants near [Al-Bukamal], Syria,” the ministry said.
Official Moscow blamed the United States that they’re helping ISIS escape while Syrian troops and their allies were nearing Al-Bukamal. Even after admitting they posted wrong footage, the Russians did not give up on their statements and the Defense Ministry shared new images. The Ministry said that it shows irrefutable evidence that U.S. are actually covering ISIS combat units to recover their combat capabilities, redeploy, and use them to promote the American interests in the Middle East.
“The United States’ refusal to carry out strikes against ISIS terrorist convoys retreating from [Al-Bukamal] is a fact recorded in the transcripts of the talks and, therefore, well known to the American side, just as the active counteraction by U.S. aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces, which were ready to destroy ISIS terrorists who were regrouping for new attacks against government troops near [Al-Bukamal],” the Ministry stated.
Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesperson for the U.S.-led coalition, said that the Russian statements are “about as accurate as their air campaign.”
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