Arrests in Latakia
Syrian security forces announced on Thursday evening that they had detained nine former military pilots. The detainees include three officers holding the rank of colonel. They are being held on charges related to participation in violent aerial operations targeting Syrian cities and towns during the tenure of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that internal security units in the coastal city of Latakia carried out the arrests following extensive surveillance and monitoring operations. The agency identified the detainees as former pilots of fighter jets and helicopters who were allegedly involved in committing war crimes against the Syrian population across several provinces.
Identified Detainees
According to the state news agency, the group of arrested pilots includes Colonel Manhal Anwar Saleh, Colonel Sami Ibrahim Mahmoud, and Colonel Ghiath Ali Al-Rahiyah. These individuals are accused of playing significant roles in military operations that resulted in substantial casualties and widespread destruction.
SANA stated that the accused participated in numerous crimes and violations that led to a large number of victims, both killed and injured. The agency noted that these actions caused serious damage to urban centers and towns throughout Syria. The arrests mark a specific effort by the current authorities to address past atrocities committed under the previous regime.
Recent Pattern of Accountability
This development follows another announcement made earlier in the week regarding the detention of a senior former officer subject to European sanctions. On Monday, Syrian authorities revealed that this individual was implicated in the killing of protesters in 2011 and in the bloody events that took place in the city of Hama in 1982.
The simultaneous focus on high-ranking military personnel from the Assad era suggests a coordinated approach to investigating historical human rights abuses. The current administration has been moving to arrest figures associated with the former government, citing their responsibility for violence against civilians. These recent detentions in Latakia continue this trend, targeting those directly involved in aerial bombardments that devastated civilian areas.
The information provided by SANA emphasizes the severity of the allegations, linking the pilots directly to the loss of life and infrastructure damage. By naming specific colonels, the authorities are highlighting the command-level involvement in these operations. This case adds to the growing list of former regime officials facing legal consequences for their roles in the conflict and repression periods.
