Syrian authorities have announced the arrests of three former Assad-era figures accused of war crimes and abuses, as the country's new government continues efforts to pursue individuals linked to violations committed during the brutal crackdown of a revolution that spiralled into a 14-year civil war.
On Saturday, Syria's Interior Ministry said it had arrested Shuaib Mahmoud Ibrahim, described as one of the leaders of groups affiliated with the former regime and wanted on accusations of war crimes and participation in military operations targeting opposition-held areas.
The ministry said the arrest followed what it described as a precise intelligence operation that uncovered suspicious activities and hidden weapons in the Masyaf area of Hama province.
According to the ministry, preliminary investigations found that Ibrahim participated in military operations in the Homs and Hama countrysides in 2017.
It also alleged that he was involved in abuses that included the mutilation of victims' bodies during those operations.
The ministry added that Ibrahim admitted during questioning to possessing weapons and hiding them with another individual in the Masyaf area.
"The relevant authorities are continuing efforts to locate and confiscate the weapons," the ministry said, adding that security forces were also pursuing the second suspect in preparation for legal action against both men.
Absi Someisem, a Syrian journalist and political analyst, told The New Arab that most of the individuals now being arrested are figures who remained inside Syria after the fall of the Assad government.
"Most of the arrests we hear about from time to time involve figures who were unable to flee during the period following Assad's fall, or individuals who believed that reaching a settlement with the Interior Ministry would exempt them from prosecution for crimes committed in the past," he said
In a separate case announced on the same day, the Interior Ministry said it had arrested Mohammed Bassam Hassani, who is accused of committing war crimes and abuses during the rule of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.
The ministry said Hassani began his activities within the Al-Tarmah Regiment, a formation affiliated with Syria's Air Force Intelligence Directorate.
It said he participated in military operations in the Aleppo and Hama countrysides and in battles around Kuweires Airbase before later joining Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
Hassani subsequently operated in the Palmyra region and the Syrian desert, the ministry added.
A third arrest was announced by the Internal Security Command in Idlib province, which said it had detained a former regime militia member accused of involvement in a series of abuses against civilians.
The suspect was not publicly identified.
The Internal Security Command said the arrest formed part of ongoing efforts to pursue individuals implicated in crimes and violations committed during previous years.
The arrests are the latest in a series of operations targeting former officers, militia members and security personnel linked to the Assad government, which was overthrown in December 2024 following a lightning offensive led by opposition factions.
Someisem said many of the most senior figures accused of crimes during the conflict had already left the country in the chaotic period that followed the collapse of the Assad government.
"However, the arrest of perpetrators who remain in Syria is an important step within the transitional justice process," he said.
"There are still thousands of criminals who have not yet been brought to justice, and thousands of victims who have not yet received redress."
He added that unresolved issues included missing persons, injured victims and reparations, while calling on the Syrian government to work internationally to secure the return and prosecution of former regime figures who fled abroad.
Since taking power, Syria's new authorities have pledged to pursue accountability for crimes committed during the country's 13-year conflict, while human rights organisations have repeatedly called for transparent investigations and fair judicial proceedings for suspects accused of war crimes and abuses.