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The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced on Friday the arrest of two high-ranking military officials from the deposed Assad regime. The arrests are part of an ongoing, sweeping security campaign targeting former regime loyalists accused of atrocities against civilians.
The Captured Figures:
Major General Wasel Al-Owaid: Former Deputy Chief of Staff under the ousted regime.
Former Major General Pilot Ibrahim Mahla: Former Chief of Staff of the 22nd Division of the Air Force.
In an official statement, Interior Minister Anas Khattab confirmed that both men—whom he described as prominent symbols of the former "bloody regime"—are now in secure custody. Detailed logistics regarding the location and manner of their capture have not yet been disclosed.
An Escalating Crackdown on Former Officials
These arrests follow a string of high-profile captures of former military and intelligence leaders within the past few weeks:
Major General Jayz Hamoud Al-Mousa: The former Air Force Chief of Staff was arrested last Tuesday. Al-Mousa had been blacklisted under European Union sanctions for his direct role in civilian crackdowns and the deployment of chemical weapons.
Khardal Ahmad Dayoub: The former head of the Air Force Intelligence branch in Deraa was apprehended last week.
Judicial Proceedings and Trials
The domestic security apparatus continues to funnel captured officials into the newly restructured judicial system. The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus recently held two public hearings (on April 26 and May 10, 2026) for Brigadier General Atef Najib concerning war crimes committed in Deraa during the early days of the 2011 revolution. Najib had been captured in January 2025 during a raid in Latakia.
The same court is concurrently conducting in absentia trials for ousted President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, former Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij, and several other top-tier figures who fled the country following the collapse of the regime on December 8, 2024. A date for the third hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Commitment to Transitional Justice
The new Syrian administration has consistently emphasized its commitment to establishing accountability and transitional justice. Authorities reiterate that investigating the actions of the former regime and trying individuals based on a robust legal and judicial framework remains a foundational priority for rebuilding the war-torn country.