Syria Interior Ministry Arrests Former Regime Officer Mohammed Mohsen Nayouf

Syria’s Interior Ministry announced on Saturday the arrest of former regime officer Mohammed Mohsen Nayouf, described as holding the rank of major general and accused of committing crimes and violations.

“On Saturday, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of Major General Mohammad Mohsen Nyof, who held several prominent military and leadership positions during the era of the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime”

Al-Jazeera Net

The ministry said that "Internal Security Forces carried out a special security operation" that resulted in the arrest of "criminal Mohammed Mohsen Nayouf," and it said the detainee was referred to the relevant authorities to complete investigations and take legal measures before being referred to the judiciary.

Al-Jazeera Net

Al Jazeera Net reported that internal security forces in Hamah province carried out a targeted operation and arrested "the criminal Mohammad Mohsen Nyof," who held positions including service in the Third Corps and command of the 18th Tank Division.

The same Al Jazeera Net account said the Interior Ministry also announced the arrest of former sergeant in the Military Police Mohammad Emad Mahrez, who worked as a guard and jailer in Saydnaya since 2015, and it framed the arrests as part of a crackdown that included officers and figures of the ousted regime during May.

Interior Minister Anas Khateeb announced on Friday evening the arrest of Major General Wasel Al-Aweid and former Air Force Brigadier General Ibrahim Mahla, and he described them as "symbols of the bloody regime, now in our security grip."

In a statement posted on the X platform, Khateeb said, "The criminals Major General Wasel Al-Aweid and Air Force Brigadier General Ibrahim Mahla—former Chief of Staff of the 22nd Division in the Air Forces—are symbols of the bloody regime," and the same account said the arrests came as trials of former regime symbols began at the end of last April.

Asharq Al-Awsat English

Yeni Şafak said the ministry arrested Lieutenant General Wasel Al-Awed and Air Force Major General Ibrahim Mahla, describing them as 'symbols of the bloody regime,' and it added that the ministry said the detainees 'are now in our security custody' without disclosing the exact location or date of their arrest.

France 24 reported that Syrian authorities detained former Major General Jaiz Hamoud Al-Mousa, and it said the Interior Ministry conducted a "carefully planned security operation" resulting in the arrest of the "criminal" air force chief Jaiz Hamoud Al-Mousa.

Beyond arrests inside Syria, Enab Baladi reported that the family of former Army of Islam leader Issam Bouidani (Abu Hamam) said they had received assurances from the Syrian leadership that UAE authorities would release Bouidani within the next few hours after almost a year in detention at Dubai International Airport.

“Syria Announces the Arrest of a Senior Military Official from the Assad Era, Accused of Widespread Crimes During the Conflict”

France 24

Enab Baladi said the release was tied to a state visit by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, April 22, and it quoted Mazen Bouidani saying the family’s preparations were underway to receive “Sheikh Issam” officially and publicly.

In parallel, Ouest-France reported that Syrian authorities said on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 that they had killed the head of the cell behind Sunday’s attack against their security forces and arrested eight others, citing an AFP account of an attack claimed by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).

Ouest-France quoted the Interior Ministry statement that security forces "arrested a terrorist cell affiliated with Daesh" and seized weapons and explosive belts, and it said the operation led to the arrest of eight members while the ninth, the leader, was neutralized.