Syria11 September, 20263 min read
Syria Detains Nine Former Assad-Era Pilots in Latakia Over War Crimes
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Nine former pilots detained in Latakia, including three brigadier generals, over alleged Assad-era bombings. Internal Security forces arrest nine pilots, per SANA, on war crimes charges during Assad's era.
9 outlets told this the same way.
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Latakia arrests nine pilots
Syrian internal security forces detained nine former military pilots from the period of Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Latakia province after a series of operations in western Syria, according to state-linked reporting. Rudaw said the arrests came as Damascus continued efforts to hold officers accountable for attacks on civilian areas under the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad, with the pilots accused of “war crimes” against the Syrian people. Roya News reported that SANA identified three detainees holding the rank of brigadier general as Brigadier General Manhal Anwar Saleh, Brigadier General Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud, and Brigadier General Ghiyath Ali al-Rahieh.
The same reporting described the suspects as former fighter jet and helicopter pilots whose alleged aerial bombardments killed and wounded hundreds in opposition-held areas, and caused extensive damage to cities and towns. UA.NEWS added that Syrian authorities said the former pilots were suspected of involvement in the bombing of cities and villages that resulted in deaths, and named generals Menhel Anwar Saleh, Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud and Ghayat Ali Rehyeh among those detained.
Accountability push and quotes
Rudaw reported that internal security forces in Latakia said they “arrested nine pilots involved in committing war crimes against the Syrian people, in cooperation with the [country's] counterterrorism directorate.” Rudaw also said the statement described the operation as “the result of monitoring, tracking, intelligence gathering, and investigations, which led to a series of qualitative and precise security operations.” Roya News framed the detentions as part of efforts by Syria’s new authorities through the Transitional Justice Authority to investigate figures accused of abuses under the former regime.
UA.NEWS said Syrian authorities claimed the actions of the detained individuals caused numerous casualties, significant destruction of cities and villages, the displacement of residents, and the destruction of housing and civilian infrastructure. In the same accountability context, Rudaw reported that Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Damascus is “preparing to hold the first court hearing for the use of chemical weapons [against the Syrian people] to ensure that there will be no impunity.”
Who is targeted next
Rudaw said the arrests in Latakia were part of a wider accountability effort launched after Assad’s December 2024 ouster, aimed at holding military commanders responsible for crimes committed under the toppled regime. Rudaw reported that on Saturday internal security forces in Latakia arrested Major General Jalal Kamel Saqr, and on Tuesday authorities in Tartus province apprehended former Major General Mohammad Ali Durgham over his connection to firing live bullets at unarmed protesters in the Damascus suburbs and involvement in the 1982 Hama massacre. UA.NEWS stated that trials began in April and that on Monday authorities reported the detention of a former general accused of involvement in suppressing the 2011 protests and the events in Hama in 1982.
Roya News added that on Monday authorities announced the arrest of a senior officer subject to European sanctions over alleged involvement in the 1982 Hama events and the killing of protesters in 2011. UA.NEWS further reported that in August Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and five other former security officials were sentenced in absentia to death for crimes committed during the civil war, and that the former president left Syria after the fall of his government and is believed to be in Russia.