Barakat began working as a photojournalist for the Reuters news agency in May 2013.
[2][3][4] His age in December of that year is quoted as 17 or 18, possibly making him a minor at the time.
[2][3][4][5][6] Barakat was killed on 20 December 2013 during the battle to control the al-Kindi Hospital in Aleppo, alongside his brother, a Syrian rebel.
[7][8][9] Reuters was widely criticized for sending an "inexperienced teenager" into a war zone.
[4][10] A photograph of Barakat's bloodstained camera was distributed by the Aleppo Media Center.