![WikiLeaks Releasing 2.4 Million Emails From 'Syria Files' [UPDATED]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/01uctOzamsSqbK5jJxHG528/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647021125.jpg)
WikiLeaks has begun releasing 2.4 million emails from Syria, many of which it claims were written by government officials and Syrian businesses.
The secret-sharing organization made the announcement about the emails, which it's calling the "Syria Files," Thursday morning in multiple languages on Twitter. Its main servers were shortly thereafter overloaded with either "[hacking] or popularity," according to @WikiLeaks, which sent out alternate links for downloading the data dump.
ALERT: WikiLeaks begins release of the Syria Files: over 2.4 million documents from 680 entities wikileaks.org fb.me/27RqNhxqx— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 5, 2012
WikiLeaks main servers are being overloaded through DDoS or popularity. Try also wikileaks.org wlfriends.org— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 5, 2012
WikiLeaks's Sarah Harrison later told reporters assembled at a London journalists' club that the emails in part would expose relationships between the Syrian government and Western companies.
Harrison also quoted embattled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who's seeking asylum at the Embassy of Ecuador in London to avoid extradition to Sweden, as saying that "the material is embarrassing to Syria, but it is also embarrassing to Syria's external opponents."
Thursday's release is only a small fraction of the total cache. The rest of the emails, which WikiLeaks believes to be authentic, are expected to be released in the near future.
Earlier this year, Anonymous gained access to emails sent from the top levels of Syria's government.
Syria's government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, is the target of a popular uprising that erupted in the wake of the Arab Spring. Last year, non-violent protests were met with violence and escalated into armed conflict. Opposition forces, known as the Free Syrian Army, have since been fighting to topple Assad's government.
The violence in the country has recently reached "unprecedented" levels, according to a United Nations commander, preventing the United Nations from maintaining observers in the country.
Why do you think WikiLeaks would release these emails? Share your thoughts in the comments.
UPDATE: Anonymous has taken credit for obtaining the emails and delivering them to WikiLeaks.