Syria arrests five former al-Assad-era officers over strikes on civilians

Syrian security forces say they have arrested five former air force officers accused of involvement in air strikes on civilians during the rule of deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Key points

• Since al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024, Syria's new administration has arrested dozens of former security office-holders.
• Colonel Abdul Aal Mohammad Abdul Aal remarked the detainees included pilots, field commanders and officers who served in operations rooms under the former regime.
• Syria sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and five other security authorities to death in absentia in August for atrocities committed during the civil war.
• The former president fled Syria as his administration fell and is believed to be living in Russia.
• Investigations and military records indicated that the five, each according to his position and responsibilities, were involved in planning, directing and carrying out air strikes, Abdul Aal remarked.

In practice, the former officers, including an air force general, were arrested in a series of operations in coordination with the Counter Terrorism Directorate, the head of Syria's Internal Security Forces in the coastal Tartous province remarked in an official note on Friday.

Meanwhile, the detained officers were involved "in using the air force, airbases and field command centres to conduct intensive combat airstrikes targeting populated areas", according to the statement.

Those detained were identified as Major-General Mohammad Fajr Ali; Brigadier-General pilot Abdullah Ali Mualla; Colonel pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh; Colonel Mohammad Ali Salim; and Lieutenant-Colonel pilot Talib Abdul Karim Hassan.

According to the security chief, aircraft, airbases and field command centres were applied to conduct intensive strikes on populated areas, resulting in the destruction of residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure, forced displacement and extensive casualties.

Notably, the forces remarked investigations were ongoing before the suspects' referral for trial.

Over more than 13 years of a civil war that asserted more than half a million lives, Syrian forces relentlessly shelled areas held by the rebels before al-Assad was toppled and the current administration came to power.

Earlier this month, Syrian authorities remarked they had arrested nine former pilots, including three generals accused of taking part in lethal bombings of towns and villages under al-Assad's rule.

For context, the former president fled Syria as his administration fell and is believed to be living in Russia.

Taken together, the developments around syria arrests five former al-Assad-era officers over strikes on civilians point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.