Syrian authorities have announced the detention of two senior military figures who served under the former Assad government, marking another move by the country’s new leadership to address alleged wartime abuses.
Interior Minister Anas Khattab disclosed the arrests on Friday in a post on X, identifying the detainees as former Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Wasel Al-Owaid and pilot Gen. Ibrahim Mahla, who previously served as chief of staff of the 22nd Air Division.
“The criminals Gen. Wasel Al-Owaid, deputy chief of staff, and pilot Gen. Ibrahim Mahla, chief of staff of the 22nd Air Division, two symbols of the bloody regime, are now in our custody,” Khattab stated.
The minister did not release additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrests.
The detentions come amid continued efforts by Syria’s transitional administration to pursue accountability for alleged crimes committed against civilians during the country’s civil war, which lasted from 2011 to 2024. Authorities have repeatedly announced the capture of individuals accused of involvement in abuses linked to the former regime.
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who governed the country for almost 25 years, fled to Russia on December 8, 2024, effectively ending the Baath Party’s decades-long hold on power. In January 2025, a transitional government headed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa was established.
