Mustafa al-Sarut, a 31-year-old Syrian journalist who worked as a reporter and photographer for Focus Aleppo Magazine and as a camera operator for TRT World, was shot and killed on November 30, 2024, by a military soldier thought to be part of dismantled Syrian military forces inside Al-Ashrafiya neighborhood of Aleppo, while covering the recent battles between government and rebel forces in the city, according to multiple news reports, his outlet, and his friend, journalist Milad Fadel, who witnessed the attack and spoke to CPJ.
Fadel, a photographer and camera operator freelancing with Al Jazeera, told CPJ via a messaging app on December 13, that he and al-Sarut went by car that morning to Aleppo to cover the fighting. “When we reached the Al-Ashrafiya neighborhood, a gunman in military uniform suddenly opened fire, shooting four times,” Fadel said. “I tried to maneuver the car to avoid being hit, but one of the bullets struck Mustafa in the head. I’m really not sure which forces the soldier belonged to—whether it was Bashar al-Assad’s forces or the Syrian Democratic Forces.
“There was no checkpoint or military post in sight. Perhaps he was a soldier attempting to flee as opposition groups were advancing,” he added.
“We rushed Mustafa to the hospital, but he succumbed to his severe injuries within 20 to 25 minutes,” Fadel said.
Fadel said he was wearing a vest and helmet marked with “Press” insignia, but al-Sarut was not. “One bullet penetrated the car’s glass and hit my vest, but it didn’t penetrate it,” Fadel said.
The Ministry of Media in the Salvation Government reported in a statement that al-Sarut “was killed when his car came under fire from members of the pro-Assad forces [toppled Syrian government].”
Focus Aleppo Magazine verified Fadel’s narrative in an email to CPJ saying, “Mustafa al-Sarut, like many courageous Syrian journalists, dedicated himself to uncovering the truth throughout the years of the revolution. They tirelessly documented daily events to ensure the story would never be forgotten. Mustafa will forever remain in our hearts and memories—a symbol of bravery, dedication to journalism, and an inspiration for us to honor the mission we began together.
“The killing of journalist Al-Sarut and other journalists constitutes a war crime that demands accountability for those responsible,” it said.
According to the Focus Aleppo Magazine’s email, al-Sarut, born in Aleppo in 1993, began his career as a photo and video journalist in 2015. He worked with several prominent media outlets, including the Aleppo Media Center, TRT, DW, BBC, and as a videographer for AFP.
Al-Sarut is the photographer behind the iconic image of Omran Daqneesh, the 5-year-old boy from Aleppo in 2016 whose haunting photograph captured global attention. Omran, covered in dust and blood, sat silently as rescuers pulled him from the rubble following an airstrike in Aleppo’s rebel-held Qaterji district.
Al-Sarut was buried in Idlib on December 1, 2024.
CPJ emailed Syrian Democratic Forces spokesperson Farhad Shami for comment but has not yet received a response. CPJ also messaged Mohammed Al-Asmar, the Press Relations Officer at the Ministry of Information in the new Syrian interim government, but has not received a response.
CPJ was unable to reach the remnants of the Syrian army following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by opposition groups on December 8, 2024.