BEIRUT — A video posted online purportedly shows Syrian soldiers taking a break from the country’s civil war by bopping around to American R&B star Usher’s hit song “Yeah!”
Near the end of the video, they stop dancing and break into their version of an oft-heard battle chant in the Middle East: “With our souls, our blood, we sacrifice for you Bashar!” as black smoke billows from a building in the background. In a jarring finale, they shoot bursts of automatic gunfire in the air.
The video, which was allegedly filmed in southern Syria, appeared to be authentic and the uniforms consistent with those worn by Syrian soldiers. It appeared on both pro-regime social networking sites and anti-regime YouTube channels, as is normal for such material.
___
On the Web:
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.