By WorldSpokesperson News Desk
Syrian authorities have arrested nine former military pilots accused of involvement in attacks on towns and villages during the rule of Bashar al-Assad.
The detainees include three generals, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA. Authorities accuse them of taking part in operations that caused civilian deaths and widespread destruction during the country’s long civil war.
The arrests came during security operations in Latakia province in western Syria. Syrian authorities said the former pilots were involved in alleged war crimes in several parts of the country.
Three Generals Among Those Arrested
SANA identified three of the detainees as generals Menhel Anwar Saleh, Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud and Ghayath Ali Rehye.
Authorities accuse the former officers of participating in attacks that caused large numbers of casualties. They also allege that the operations damaged homes, towns and civilian infrastructure.
The authorities further said the attacks displaced residents from affected areas.
The allegations have not been tested in court. The arrests are part of the new government’s wider efforts to investigate abuses linked to the former Assad government.
Syria Pursues Former Assad Officials
Syria has arrested dozens of former security and military officials since Assad was overthrown in December 2024.
The new authorities have also begun legal proceedings against some former officials. The campaign focuses on alleged abuses committed during the 13-year conflict.
The Syrian civil war killed more than half a million people and displaced millions. Government forces repeatedly used artillery and air power against areas held by opposition groups during the conflict.
Former General Also Arrested
The latest arrests follow other operations targeting former Assad-era officials.
Syrian authorities recently announced the arrest of a former general accused of involvement in the suppression of protests that began in 2011. The authorities also linked him to the 1982 Hama massacre.
Meanwhile, Syria has continued to pursue senior figures from the former regime.
In August, Syrian authorities sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and five other former security officials to death in absentia over alleged atrocities committed during the civil war.
Assad Remains in Russia
Bashar al-Assad fled Syria after his government collapsed in December 2024.
He is believed to be living in Russia, where Moscow has provided him with refuge.
The new Syrian authorities have since sought to hold former regime officials accountable for alleged abuses. At the same time, the country continues to face major political and security challenges as it attempts to rebuild after years of war.
