Syria arrests five former al-Assad-era officers over strikes on civilians

Former air officers, including an air force general, were arrested in a series of operations.

Al Jazeera2026-09-18 20:20查看原文 ↗

Former air officers, including an air force general, were arrested in a series of operations.

A member of the former rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stands guard near an image of Syria's ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad [File: Yamam Al Shaar/Reuters]

Syrian security forces say they have arrested five former air force officers accused of involvement in air strikes on civilians during the rule of deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

The former officers, including an air force general, were arrested in a series of operations in coordination with the Counter Terrorism Directorate, the head of Syria’s Internal Security Forces in the coastal Tartous province said in a statement on Friday.

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The detained officers were involved “in using the air force, airbases and field command centres to conduct intensive combat airstrikes targeting populated areas”, according to the statement.

Colonel Abdul Aal Mohammad Abdul Aal said the detainees included pilots, field commanders and officers who served in operations rooms under the former regime.

Those detained were identified as Major-General Mohammad Fajr Ali; Brigadier-General pilot Abdullah Ali Mualla; Colonel pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh; Colonel Mohammad Ali Salim; and Lieutenant-Colonel pilot Talib Abdul Karim Hassan.

Investigations and military records indicated that the five, each according to his position and responsibilities, were involved in planning, directing and carrying out air strikes, Abdul Aal said.

According to the security chief, aircraft, airbases and field command centres were used to conduct intensive strikes on populated areas, resulting in the destruction of residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure, forced displacement and extensive casualties.

The forces said investigations were ongoing before the suspects’ referral for trial.

Over more than 13 years of a civil war that claimed more than half a million lives, Syrian forces relentlessly shelled areas held by the rebels before al-Assad was toppled and the current government came to power.

Since al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024, Syria’s new government has arrested dozens of former security officials.

Earlier this month, Syrian authorities said they had arrested nine former pilots, including three generals accused of taking part in lethal bombings of towns and villages under al-Assad’s rule.

Syria sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and five other security officials to death in absentia in August for atrocities committed during the civil war.

The former president fled Syria as his government fell and is believed to be living in Russia.

在一系列行动中，包括一名空军将军在内的多名前空军军官被捕。

前反叛组织“沙姆解放组织”的一名成员在叙利亚被罢黜的前领导人巴沙尔·阿萨德的画像旁站岗。[图片：Yamam Al Shaar/路透社]

叙利亚安全部队称，他们逮捕了五名前空军军官，这些军官被指控在被罢黜的总统巴沙尔·阿萨德统治期间参与了对平民的空袭。

叙利亚沿海塔尔图斯省内部安全部队负责人周五在一份声明中表示，包括一名空军将军在内的多名前军官是在与反恐局协调的一系列行动中被捕的。

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声明称，被拘留的军官参与了“利用空军、空军基地和野战指挥中心对人口稠密地区进行密集空袭”。

阿卜杜勒·阿勒·穆罕默德·阿卜杜勒·阿勒上校表示，被拘留者包括飞行员、野战指挥官以及在前政权下作战室服役的军官。

被拘留者被确认为 Mohammad Fajr Ali 少将；飞行员阿卜杜拉·阿里·穆阿拉准将；飞行员尼达尔·侯赛因·萨利赫上校；穆罕默德·阿里·萨利姆上校；和中校飞行员塔利布·阿卜杜勒·卡里姆·哈桑。

阿卜杜勒·阿勒表示，调查和军事记录表明，这五人根据各自的职位和职责，参与了空袭的计划、指挥和执行。