The US government is using the internet to disseminate propaganda about the war in Syria.
The US State Department’s Global Engagement Center published a statement on Wednesday that said “the United States is actively working to combat terrorist propaganda online and on social media, and to disseminating its message of support for the Syrian people.”
It added that “our work to combat terrorism is coordinated with our international partners and partners in the region.”
The statement also highlighted efforts by US government agencies to combat extremism on the internet, and urged the public to “report suspicious online activity.”
The official statement also cited recent developments in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the rise of pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine.
In July, Russia announced it had killed more than 200 members of ISIS in Syria, including some Russian citizens, as well as one U.S. citizen.
The U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution to increase sanctions against Russia for its role in the conflict.
In its statement on Tuesday, the State Department said “we have long known the threat of terrorist propaganda in Syria was real and the United States remains concerned about the ongoing threat of foreign fighters and other foreign fighters returning to Syria from Europe and the Middle East.”
It also called for an end to “propaganda and disinformation efforts directed at the people of Syria.”
The State Department also said that it had “recently made efforts to identify and remove Russian-directed propaganda on social networks.”
According to the US government, ISIS has been able to create a massive, global propaganda network and use social media to promote its extremist agenda, which includes the killing of Westerners, Western journalists, Western politicians and Western companies.
ISIS has also been using social media platforms to disseminates propaganda about its campaign in Syria and to encourage its supporters to return to Syria to fight against the Assad regime.
The State department also warned that “Russia’s use of social media has created a new environment where ISIS can amplify its messages and promote its agenda.”
In May, the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin saying that Russian propaganda and the dissemination of extremist propaganda online could pose a “threat to our national security.”
“We continue to assess Russia’s efforts to support ISIS and other radical groups in the Middle Eastern region and around the world, including in the Caucasus,” the bulletin said.
