Syrian security forces have arrested five senior air force officers and commanders who served under the government of former president Bashar al-Assad over their alleged involvement in airstrikes on populated areas during the country’s conflict, state news agency SANA reported on Friday.
Col. Abdul Aal Mohammad Abdul Aal, head of Internal Security in the coastal province of Tartous, said specialised units working with the Anti-Terrorism Directorate carried out a series of operations that led to the arrests.
The detainees were identified as Maj. Gen. Mohammad Fajr Ali, Brig. Gen. pilot Abdullah Ali Mualla, Col. pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh, Col. Mohammad Ali Salim and Lt. Col. pilot Talib Abdul Karim Hassan.
According to Abdul Aal, the group included pilots, field commanders and officers who had worked in operational command centres under the former government.
He said investigations and military records indicated that the five, according to their respective positions and responsibilities, had been involved in planning, directing or carrying out airstrikes.
Syrian authorities allege that aircraft, air bases and field command centres were used to conduct intensive attacks on populated areas, causing civilian casualties, widespread destruction of residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure, and the displacement of residents.
The arrests follow another operation announced on September 10, when Latakia Internal Security Commander Abdulaziz al-Ahmad said nine former pilots had been detained following surveillance, intelligence gathering and investigations.
Al-Ahmad alleged that those detainees had participated in “numerous crimes and violations against the Syrian people” while using their military positions and expertise in combat and helicopter aviation.
Authorities said the operations under investigation included bombardments that caused deaths and injuries, damaged cities and towns, displaced residents and destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure.
The allegations against the detained officers remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings and have not been established by a court.
Syrian authorities have periodically announced arrests of former government personnel accused of abuses during the conflict that began in March 2011. Assad’s government was overthrown on December 8, 2024, after opposition forces entered Damascus.