Syrian internal security forces on Thursday arrested nine former military pilots in Latakia province in the west of the country, including three brigadier generals. According to the official SANA news agency, the detainees flew fighter jets and helicopters under Bashar al-Assad’s former government and are suspected of participating in deadly bombardments and other war crimes in several Syrian provinces.
Abdel Aziz al-Ahmad, head of Latakia’s internal security service, said the arrests were preceded by surveillance, intelligence gathering and an investigation conducted with the assistance of the counterterrorism unit. Those detained include generals Manhal Anwar Saleh, Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud and Ghiyath Ali al-Rahiya, as well as officers of lower ranks. According to the authorities, they used their positions and military aviation experience to participate in attacks that killed and wounded large numbers of people, destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure, and displaced residents.
Al-Ahmad said the detainees would be referred to the competent judicial authorities and that all those accused would be punished in accordance with the law. The arrests are part of an ongoing campaign by the Syrian authorities to hold former officials and officers suspected of abuses against civilians accountable. A transitional justice body has also been established to investigate past crimes. Earlier, the authorities announced the arrest of a former senior officer who is under EU sanctions and accused of killing protesters in 2011 and involvement in the 1982 Hama massacre.
Full version: Arrest of 9 pilots in Latakia on charges of committing crimes under the ousted regime