Syria Arrests 5 Senior Officers and Leaders of the Air Force During Assad's Era

Listen to the article, the audio text is automatically generated by a machine system.

Syrian authorities announced today, Friday, the arrest of five former air force officers on suspicion of involvement in conducting airstrikes during the internal conflict under the ousted president Bashar al-Assad.

The conflict, which lasted from 2011 until the overthrow of Assad in late 2024, claimed the lives of more than half a million people. During this time, areas controlled by opposition forces and factions were subjected to intense aerial bombardment.

The internal security forces stated that they were able to "arrest five senior officers and leaders of the air force of the fallen regime" in Tartus province, noting that they continue their investigations with them to refer them to the judiciary.

It was reported in a statement that the detainees are five officers, one of whom holds the rank of major general, another the rank of colonel, in addition to two lieutenant colonels and a captain.

It was indicated that they participated "in the planning, management, and execution of airstrike operations, benefiting from the air force, air bases, and field guidance centers to carry out intensive combat raids targeting populated areas," which led to destruction, displacement of residents, and human losses.

The head of internal security in Tartus, Colonel Abdel Aal Mohamed Abdel Aal, stated in a statement that the arrests included pilots, field leaders, and officers in the operations rooms, namely Major General Mohamed Fajr Ali, Brigadier General Pilot Abdullah Ali Ma'la, Colonel Pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh, Colonel Mohamed Ali Salim, and Major Pilot Taleb Abdel Karim Hassan.

Abdel Aal pointed out that investigations and military records revealed the involvement of the detainees, each according to their position and responsibility in the planning, management, and execution of airstrike operations, benefiting from the air force, air bases, and field guidance centers to carry out intensive combat raids targeting populated areas, resulting in the destruction of residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, and the forced displacement of residents, in addition to extensive human losses due to targeting populated areas.

He noted that investigations are ongoing with the detainees to determine their criminal responsibilities for the raids and the violations attributed to them, in preparation for referring them to the competent judiciary according to legal procedures, emphasizing that there will be no impunity for criminals, and anyone proven to be responsible will be held accountable according to the law.

Since the fall of Assad in December 2024, the authorities have arrested dozens of former security officials.

On September 11, the authorities announced the arrest of nine former pilots, including three colonels, on charges of participating in deadly bombing operations targeting Syrian cities and towns during the conflict.

In April, public trials began, both in person and in absentia, for former political and security officials on several charges that amount to "war crimes" committed after the popular protests that erupted in 2011 and were violently suppressed by the previous regime before turning into a conflict.

In August, the judiciary issued death sentences in absentia against Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher, and in person against former security official and the ousted president's cousin Atef Najib. Additionally, Waseem al-Assad, the ousted president's cousin, was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity and war crimes.