Syrian Internal Security Forces Arrest Zekeriya Muhammad Sinun And Ahmed Mohamed Ismail

Arrests Target Republican Guard

Syrian Internal Security Forces announced on Sunday that they arrested former Brig. Gen. Zekeriya Muhammad Sinun, describing him as a former leader in Bashar al-Assad’s army and as “one of the most prominent individuals involved in planning and executing war crimes and air attacks against civilians during the years of the Syrian revolution.”

The statement said Sinun held the rank of Brigadier General (Air) during the era of the toppled regime and served as head of the Operations Branch of the 22nd Division from 2012 to 2020, a unit responsible for air operations at three military airports.

The Internal Security Forces said Sinun directly supervised operations at Hama Military, T4 (TFour), and Sha’irat, and that he was referred to the competent authorities for investigations in preparation for appearing before the competent judiciary.

In a separate announcement, the Syrian Ministry of Internal Affairs said it had detained Lieutenant General Ahmed Mohamed Ismail, who previously served as Chief of Staff of the Republican Guard during the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The ministry said Ismail’s career included command roles in the 101st Airborne Division and that he remained in his position until the regime’s collapse on December 8, 2024, according to the statement.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Jazeera Net

Investigations and Air-Strike Focus

The Interior Ministry said competent authorities are still questioning Ismail to complete necessary legal and judicial procedures, without disclosing the place or timing of the arrest, while the Internal Security Forces framed the case as part of pursuing those involved in violations committed during the regime’s rule from 2000 to 2024. Alaraby TV and Alaraby TV’s post, as relayed by التلفزيون العربي, described Ismail as “one of the frontline leaders of the Republican Guard during the former regime’s rule,” and said military records show he was promoted in early 2016 to head of operations for the 101st Airborne Regiment. The same source said Ismail served as Chief of Staff of the Republican Guard for six months, then as Deputy Commander of the 14th Division specialized in airborne operations for a year, before becoming its commander and remaining in office until the “liberation of Syria.”

In Tartus Governorate, Colonel Abdul Aal Mohammed Abdul Aal said specialized units carried out “a series of precise security operations,” which culminated on Friday in the arrest of five senior officers and commanders of the former regime’s air force. The Al-Jazeera Net report also said last Friday security forces in Tartus arrested five senior officers and leaders of the regime’s air force, with the Internal Security Forces describing the operation as part of pursuing violations during years of war against civilians.

Broader Crackdown and Legal Track

The arrest announcements were presented as part of a widening scope of security measures that include senior air-command figures, with ميدل ايست اونلاين saying the move came “a day after the arrest of a former leader in the Republican Guard.” That same report said Sunun was arrested during a “highly targeted and well-planned security operation,” and that the Interior Ministry described him as one of the most prominent figures involved in planning and executing war crimes and aerial assaults against civilians. ميدل ايست اونلاين also reported that Syrian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of five senior officers and leaders of the former air force in Tartous province, and that media reports indicated internal security forces arrested about 15 former pilots during September of this year across several provinces.

The report further said the succession of arrests points to a growing focus on the air force, including leadership of operations and officers who took on field roles in overseeing bombardments, and it linked the pattern to the day-after arrest of Ahmed Mohammed Ismail. Al-Jazeera Net added that a spokesman for the Syrian Interior Ministry, Nouri al-Din al-Baba, announced last June that the Anti-Terrorism Directorate has 5,989 detainees distributed across several military ranks from members of the toppled regime.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Jazeera Net