A doctoral student conducting research on the Syrian conflict has employed a carefully constructed online persona to gain access to senior regime officers for interviews, providing rare insight into their perspectives. The student, identified only as Shahhoud for security reasons, spoke from an undisclosed location, emphasizing the ongoing risks associated with her work despite the decline of active hostilities in Syria.

Shahhoud left Syria in 2015 to pursue graduate studies in Europe, focusing her master’s thesis on medical violence during the war. Her research highlighted the complicity of some doctors in the torture of detainees, including instances where medical professionals participated in interrogations within hospitals. This initial investigation sparked her interest in the mindset of individuals who perpetrated violence in the conflict.

Inspired by Robert Jay Lifton’s analysis of Nazi doctors, which explored the psychological mechanism known as “doubling” that enables individuals to compartmentalize violent acts and ordinary life, Shahhoud sought to understand whether similar processes informed the behavior of Syrian perpetrators. She began interviewing doctors linked to regime forces but recognized that accessing higher-ranking intelligence and military officials would be more challenging.

To overcome these obstacles, Shahhoud and her academic adviser created a new online identity for her, adopting the alias "Anna." This fabricated persona was designed as a young Alawite woman studying abroad, mirroring the religious background of many regime officers while residing beyond the reach of Syrian authorities. The profile was carefully crafted with a mysterious image and symbols supportive of the Assad regime to build credibility.

Using this approach, Shahhoud initiated contact with officers via social media. Initial responses were slow, but eventually, several agreed to speak. Many were reluctant at first but gradually opened up, as the winding down of the conflict left them with time for reflection. The officers, often isolated and distrustful of others—including close family members due to a pervasive fear of informants—found "Anna" a rare confidante.

Representing a segment of Alawite society outside the regime’s coastal power base, Shahhoud’s persona provided common ground and a perception of safety, allowing officers to speak candidly about their experiences. Despite their role in supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s government and contributing to its military successes, many revealed feelings of vulnerability. Instead of recognition, a number of these officers reported being subjected to investigations by intelligence services, which viewed influential figures with suspicion.

Those interviewed described repeated summons for questioning and a growing sense of isolation. Many sought to justify their conduct by claiming responsibility lay with others, asserting they had no direct wrongdoing. The interviews offer a rare window into the conflicted psychology of regime loyalists grappling with their past actions amid uncertainty about their futures as the Syrian war moves toward a new phase.