Syrian security forces have arrested five former members of the Assad regime’s militias and intelligence services over alleged involvement in massacres and serious abuses against civilians, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.
The ministry said the arrests followed intelligence-led security operations targeting former regime personnel accused of committing serious crimes during Syria’s long conflict.
One of those detained was Shahin Hamdan al-Shahin, who helped establish the Shawaheen Regiment militia under the former government. According to the ministry, he joined the Air Force Intelligence Directorate in 2015 and later became involved in forming armed groups.
Authorities accused al-Shahin of taking part in massacres in eastern Hama and along the Ithriya-Raqqa road in 2017. He was also allegedly involved in killings, arrests, torture and destruction in Palmyra and areas toward Deir ez-Zor until 2019.
In another operation, security forces arrested four additional former regime members accused of serious violations against civilians.
The ministry named Nabil Adnan Ismail and Ghazi Mohammed Ismail as former militia commanders linked to the Air Force Intelligence Directorate. They were allegedly involved in kidnappings, looting and killings, including incidents in the village of Aqrab. Authorities also accused them of kidnapping civilians and demanding money from their families.
The other two suspects, brothers Taher Youssef al-Mohammed and Talal Youssef al-Mohammed, previously served with the Air Force Intelligence Directorate and the Scientific Studies and Research Center.
According to the Interior Ministry, the brothers participated in repression and arrests and allegedly used their positions to obtain detainee information and pressure their families for money.
Investigations into all five suspects are continuing before they are transferred to judicial authorities.
The arrests are part of ongoing Syrian security operations against former regime figures accused of abuses committed during the country’s nearly 14-year conflict.
On September 18, authorities also detained five senior former air force officers and commanders over alleged involvement in planning and directing airstrikes against populated areas.
Following the December 8, 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s new administration has continued targeting former regime personnel accused of involvement in abuses.
Assad, who ruled Syria for almost 25 years, fled to Russia after opposition forces captured Damascus, ending decades of Baath Party rule.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE