Syrian authorities intensified efforts to arrest former Assad regime officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, marking a significant phase in the country’s postwar accountability process since Assad’s fall.
Over recent weeks, the Interior Ministry announced several high profile arrests involving former military and intelligence officers accused of participating in chemical attacks, torture operations, assassinations and repression during the Syrian revolution.
Among the most prominent detainees is Brig. Gen. Khardal Ahmad Dioub, the former head of Air Force Intelligence in Daraa province. The Interior Ministry said security forces arrested Dioub during what it described as a “qualitative operation” after investigations linked him to systematic violations against civilians.
According to ministry statements, records showed Dioub served in the Damascus branch of Air Force Intelligence and operated in the Harasta area during chemical attacks targeting Eastern Ghouta. Authorities accused him of supervising repressive operations and helping coordinate the logistical preparations for chemical bombardments using internationally banned weapons.
The ministry also alleged that Dioub managed what officials described as an “assassination committee” in Daraa province responsible for murdering opponents and activists. Investigators further accused him of coordinating with Iranian intelligence and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement while facilitating the movement of foreign operatives inside Syria under official security cover.
The Eastern Ghouta chemical attacks remain among the most internationally scrutinized events of the Syrian conflict, particularly the 2013 attack that killed hundreds and triggered widespread condemnation.
Military Leaders Face Expanding Investigations
Authorities also announced the arrest of Brig. Gen. Sahl Fajr Hassan, a senior military officer who held several command positions during the war. The Interior Ministry said Hassan participated in operations against anti-Assad groups from the early years of the revolution.
According to officials, he commanded a Republican Guard battalion in Deir Ezzor and later joined the security committee in Aleppo. Investigators said Hassan also directed military fronts in Homs and Idlib before transferring to southern Syria as part of the 11th Division in Sanamayn.
He later served as deputy commander and then commander of the 15th Division in Suwayda province. The ministry did not specify individual incidents tied to Hassan but described him as one of the military figures involved in repression against Syrians during the revolution.
His arrest followed the earlier detention of Maj. Gen. Adnan al-Halwa, whom Interior Minister Anas Khattab described as one of the most prominent officers linked to the 2013 Eastern Ghouta chemical massacre.
Female Torturer Case Draws Attention
One of the more unusual recent cases involves a former female member of Air Force Intelligence identified as Hala, whose arrest drew significant public attention after investigations by SyriaTV and testimonies from former detainees.
According to analyst and online archivist Qalaat Al Mudiq, Hala served at the Air Force Intelligence prison inside Mazzeh Airbase in Damascus between 2016 and 2024. Former detainees accused her of participating in beatings, lashings and torture methods including the “doulab,” or tire torture technique, used inside detention centers.
Hala previously worked as a sniper in Darayya and Yarmouk Camp and allegedly boasted about targeting civilians during military operations. After Assad’s fall, she reportedly attempted to conceal her identity by working as a hairdresser in Damascus before investigators identified and arrested her. Authorities have since collected testimonies from alleged victims ahead of her expected trial.
Justice Process Carries Political and Legal Weight
The arrests reflect broader efforts by Syria’s new authorities to address crimes committed during 14 years of war that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced. Human rights organizations and victims’ families have long demanded accountability for chemical attacks, torture prisons, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings carried out under Assad.
While many legal and political challenges remain, the recent arrests signal an attempt by Syrian authorities to establish judicial proceedings against senior security and military figures once considered untouchable under the former regime.
