Syrian security forces have launched a sweeping campaign targeting remnants of the ousted Assad regime, arresting several former officials and relatives of Bashar al-Assad accused of crimes ranging from murder to drug trafficking. October 16, the Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of Namir Badi al-Assad, cousin of Bashar, in a coordinated operation in the Qardaha area of Latakia Governorate.
According to Brig. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Ahmad, commander of the Internal Security Service in Latakia, the raid occurred in coordination with the Counter-Terrorism Branch. It resulted in the capture of Namir al-Assad, his brother Wassim, and several members of their gang following their involvement in the killing of citizen Rabie Hamisha and an attempted kidnapping in the village of Dabiqa.
Investigations revealed that Namir had exploited his family connections to lead organized networks engaged in murder, extortion, and drug smuggling. The Interior Ministry said he was also implicated in an armed assault last March targeting security installations in Slanfeh. He has been referred to the Anti-Terrorism Department pending judicial action.
Former Commanders and Security Officers Detained
The operation in Latakia coincided with the arrest of Col. Qusay Wajih Ibrahim, the former commander of the regime’s “Mountain Battalion,” responsible for operations in Jabal al-Akrad and Nabi Yunis. Brig. Gen. Ahmad said initial investigations confirmed Ibrahim’s involvement in extortion and attacks on military and security sites.
In Daraa, the ministry reported the arrest of Awad, a former first assistant in the ousted regime’s Military Security Branch. Officials said he oversaw civilian arrests and executions at Sednaya prison during the early years of the Syrian revolution. He also allegedly recruited young men to join loyalist militias and extorted local activists.
Meanwhile, in Hama, Internal Security Forces detained Bilal Mahrez—known locally as “The Butcher”—and his brother Saifuddin Mahrez. Brig. Gen. Mulham al-Shantoot said the pair were responsible for war crimes and the displacement of civilians during their service under the Assad regime.
Accountability Campaign Expands Nationwide
The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by the new Syrian government to prosecute figures linked to abuses under the Assad era. Since the regime’s fall on Dec. 8, authorities have detained multiple senior officials, including Wassim al-Assad, Atef Najib, and Ibrahim Huwaija, according to statements from the Ministry of Interior.
In Latakia, former Military Security chief Samer Adeeb Omran was captured earlier this week. Investigators say Omran oversaw kidnappings, assassinations, and intelligence operations while managing drug-smuggling networks from Daraa to the northern coast.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab described the arrests as “a severe blow to the remnants of the former regime and their attempts to sow discord and destabilize the coastal region.” In a post on X, he praised security forces for their “vigilance and professionalism,” adding that “the nation’s security is a red line.” The ministry affirmed that operations to track down and prosecute remaining fugitives will continue “until justice is achieved and accountability is ensured for all those who violated the rights of Syrians.”
