Lebanon Detains Syrian Regime Officers Amid Interpol Warrant for Intelligence Chief
Interpol’s request for the arrest of Jamil Hassan, a key figure in the Syrian regime, coincides with the detention of many Syrian officers in Lebanon. These developments highlight the ongoing complexities of Syrian regime remnants seeking refuge in Lebanon alongside Lebanon’s coordinating security endeavors with HTS.
Interpol has issued a warrant for Jamil Hassan, head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence, due to alleged war crimes and genocide committed during the Syrian conflict. Lebanese judicial authorities received a notification from Interpol instructing them to arrest Hassan if he enters Lebanon. Following this, dozens of officers from the former Syrian regime have been detained in Lebanon after fleeing the Assad regime amid civil unrest. Reports indicate that over twenty of these officers, including six from the infamous Fourth Armoured Division, were apprehended while attempting to sell their military weapons at alarmingly low prices.
The apprehensions come as the Lebanese government intensifies its efforts to manage security along the border, particularly concerning the former Syrian regime’s remnants and their interactions with the ruling Syrian opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In a recent statement, Lebanon’s Caretaker Interior Minister, Bassam al-Mawlawi, confirmed that images of wanted officers from the Syrian regime have been circulated at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, indicating a persistent threat of their illegal entry into Lebanon.
The backdrop of this development involves the ongoing repercussions from the Syrian civil war, which has resulted in the displacement of numerous military personnel from the Assad regime. Their attempts to escape to Lebanon reflect the ongoing instability and fear permeating the regime’s former defenders. Legal actions, including Interpol’s warrant, highlight the international community’s growing scrutiny of those implicated in war crimes, reinforcing Lebanon’s challenge in managing such individuals amidst its own political complexities.
In summary, the issuance of an arrest warrant for Jamil Hassan and the subsequent detention of numerous Syrian regime officers in Lebanon signify the complexity of post-war dynamics in the region. It underscores Lebanon’s role in addressing the legacy of the Syrian conflict, including potential war crimes committed by regime officials. The cooperation between Lebanese authorities and HTS further illustrates the evolving security landscape and Lebanon’s efforts to maintain control over its borders in light of these challenges.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
