Lebanon to extradite former Syrian general Adil Issa after embassy arrest

Lebanese judicial authorities have interrogated former Syrian army general Adil Issa, who previously led the 17th Division under the Assad regime, after his arrest inside the Syrian embassy in Baabda, Mount Lebanon. According to sources cited by Al Arabiya, Lebanon has decided to extradite Issa to Syrian authorities in line with a bilateral judicial cooperation agreement.

The sources said that Lebanon’s Public Prosecutor, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Haj, questioned Issa over allegations of military crimes committed during his service in the former Syrian army. The decision to hand him over was based on the agreement obliging both countries to extradite citizens wanted by either side.

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Issa reportedly entered the Syrian embassy last week, believing he was not wanted. However, embassy staff notified Lebanese judicial authorities of his presence, prompting security forces to detain him and transfer him to the Justice Palace police station in Beirut.

Upon his arrival at the Justice Palace, the public prosecutor ordered his detention pending investigation, and questioning began regarding the charges against him.

Issa denies any involvement in violations or crimes during the Syrian conflict, stating that his division only accompanied Syrian military intelligence units and that he retired five years before the fall of former president Bashar Assad’s regime.

These developments come as Damascus has, in recent months, begun pursuing what it calls “remnants of the former regime involved in Syrian bloodshed” during the war.

Two days ago, Damascus issued a death sentence in absentia against Bashar Assad and his brother Maher, who are in Russia.