Al Mayadeen TV refuses to divulge the identity of its backers, but there have been reports that it is funded by Iran and has links to a cousin of Assad. It has been alleged that its head of news is married to a former adviser to Assad, and that its general manager was previously head of Al-Manar, the broadcaster affiliated to Hizbollah. Joe Khalil, the author of a book about television in the Arab world, says the station is undoubtedly supportive of the Assad regime.