France issues new arrest warrant for deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

France has issued a new international arrest warrant for deposed Syrian Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria's prolonged civil conflict. This marks the third such warrant French judicial authorities have filed against the longtime Syrian leader.

Focus on 2013 Chemical Attacks

According to French media reports on Thursday, the warrant signed on July 29 specifically targets Assad for his alleged involvement in chemical weapons attacks carried out in August 2013. The charges relate to incidents in Adra and Douma that injured approximately 450 people, and a sarin gas attack in Eastern Ghouta that US intelligence estimates killed more than 1,000 individuals.

Previous Warrants and Current Status

This latest legal action follows previous French arrest warrants concerning the 2012 bombing of a press center in Homs that killed journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik, and the 2017 bombing of a civilian area in Deraa. Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December following the collapse of the Baath Party regime that had governed since 1963. A transitional administration under President Ahmad Sharaa was established in January. Türkiye, which shares a border with Syria, has maintained a consistent position against the Assad regime while supporting political transition and humanitarian efforts in the region.