A Scots YouTuber was left stunned after his travel video appeared on a foreign news outlet - where he was supposedly accused of meeting up with Assad’s regime and exposing corruption.
Callum Mills, who goes by the name Callum Abroad on his YouTube channel, travels to far-flung destinations and vlogs his trips for his 2,800 subscribers.
The 29-year-old, from Coatbridge, has ventured to the likes of Jordan, Egypt and recently jetted off to the Syrian capital of Damascus on another adventure in early April.
But the Scot was left dumbfounded when he was sent a clip by strangers on social media from a foreign news outlet that featured a video of him from his time in Syria.
In the video, Callum is filming himself in a historical building during his holiday to the Middle East.
Confused by the bizarre report - Callum was left trying to make sense of the broadcast which he believes was streamed on Syrian-based Orient News.
With the help of Syrians on social media, the broadcast was translated to allege that the YouTuber had met up with Assad’s regime and exposed corruption in the country.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: "I was alerted to the clip through YouTube and social media. Many Syrian people told me I was on the news and they were spreading disinformation.
"One of the media outlets was called Orient News, but there were a couple of different ones too. Fortunately, I had very nice Syrian people help translate it for me.
"The news reported that I met up with Assad’s regime and I apparently embarrassed them by 'exposing corruption'."
He added: "The report also claimed I had to be with 'Assad’s PR men' anytime I went outside. This is not true.
"I walked around freely and without a guide. I even went to a nightclub in Damascus and met some lovely Syrian people."
He added: "My videos are in no way political. I’m just a guy from Coatbridge who decided to quit uni and travel the world. I had a very nice time in Damascus and, hopefully, my videos reflect that."
Despite his strange experience, the YouTuber says he would return to Syria in a heartbeat.
Callum continued: "I feel that it’s important to highlight that I travelled to Syria because I think the country is rich in history and I have spoken to Syrian people in Glasgow who highly recommended Damascus.
"I think some people forget that through the chaos in Syria, there are just normal everyday people trying to live a normal life and earn money.
"I have had lots of positive messages from Syrians around the world and, given the chance, I would go back in a heartbeat."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
