Former Assad regime commander arrested in Syria over war crimes charges

Syrian security forces arrested a former commander in the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad on Thursday for involvement in war crimes in Syria, the Interior Ministry said.

A ministry statement said Bashar Mahfoud, a recruitment official in the Assad's regime, was arrested in a security operation, without providing details about where the arrest took place.

The ministry said Mahfoud was involved in war crimes committed by the Assad regime and forming a gang for looting and kidnappings after the regime's fall.

The ministry said Mahfoud will be brought to court.

After the collapse of the Assad regime in December, the new Syrian authorities launched an initiative to settle the status of former regime members in the military and security forces, contingent on their surrendering weapons and remaining untainted by bloodshed.

On March 13, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration, establishing a five-year transitional period for the country.

Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.