Syria arrests Assad-era deputy chief of staff, air commander
Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced on Friday that Syrian authorities have detained two high-ranking Assad-era military officials, including a former deputy chief of staff and an air division commander, as the transitional government pursues accountability for alleged wartime abuses committed during the 2011-2024 conflict.
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on Friday that authorities have detained two senior military figures from the Assad era. He stated on X that "the criminals Gen. Wasel Al-Owaid, deputy chief of staff, and pilot Gen. Ibrahim Mahla, chief of staff of the 22nd Air Division, two symbols of the bloody regime, are now in our custody," according to the official announcement.
Khattab provided no further details regarding the circumstances or locations of the arrests. The announcement marks the latest move by the transitional government to target former officials accused of wartime abuses.
Accountability efforts
The new Syrian administration has repeatedly announced arrests of individuals implicated in crimes against civilians during the 2011-2024 civil war. President Ahmad al-Sharaa's government has prioritized accountability for alleged atrocities committed under the previous regime as it seeks to consolidate authority and build legitimacy both domestically and internationally.
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Security forces have conducted sweeping operations across the country to apprehend former military and intelligence officers linked to the Baath Party's rule. These efforts aim to dismantle the institutional networks that sustained Assad's government while addressing widespread demands for justice from victims and human rights organizations.
Post-Assad transition
Bashar Assad fled to Russia on December 8, 2024, ending nearly 25 years of rule that followed his father's three-decade reign. The collapse of the regime came after opposition forces launched a rapid offensive that captured Damascus and forced the former president into exile.
A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa formally assumed power in January 2025, tasked with stabilizing the fractured state and preventing further sectarian violence. The government continues to face significant challenges in securing borders, restoring basic services, and managing relations with neighboring states including Türkiye.
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