# Nine Ex-Assad-Era Pilots Arrested in Syria on War Crimes Charges

*Syrian authorities have arrested nine former military pilots, including three generals, accused of war crimes under Bashar al-Assad's rule.*

September 11, 2026 · World

Syrian authorities announced the arrest of nine former military pilots, including three generals, who are accused of participating in lethal bombings of towns and villages during the rule of former president Bashar al-Assad. The arrests were made following operations in Latakia, in the country's west. The Internal Security Forces detained the pilots for their alleged involvement in war crimes against the Syrian people in several regions, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Among those arrested are generals Menhel Anwar Saleh, Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud, and Ghayath Ali Rehye. SANA cited authorities stating that these pilots' actions resulted in a significant number of casualties and extensive damage to towns, villages, and civilian infrastructure, as well as displacing residents. The arrests are part of a broader effort by Syria's new Islamist authorities to hold former security officials accountable for their actions during the civil war.

The Syrian civil war, which lasted over 13 years, claimed more than half a million lives. During this period, Syrian forces relentlessly shelled areas held by rebels. The conflict ended with the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, leading to the establishment of the current Islamist government. Since then, numerous former security officials have been arrested, and trials began in April.

In a related development, Syrian authorities arrested a former general accused of involvement in the bloody repression of protests in 2011, which sparked the civil war, and the 1982 Hama massacre. Additionally, in August, Syria sentenced Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and five other security officials to death in absentia for atrocities committed during the war. The former president is believed to be living in Russia after fleeing Syria as his government fell.

The arrests of these former pilots and other security officials signify a continued effort by the new Syrian government to address the atrocities committed during the civil war. This move is expected to have significant implications for the country's path to reconciliation and justice. For the international community, including Bangladesh, these developments highlight the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for war crimes and the complexities of post-conflict justice.

## Sources

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/world/syria-arrests-nine-former-assad-era-pilots