Syrian security arrests Brig. Gen. Jaber Mahrez Ibrahim over Daraa protest crackdown

Syrian internal security forces on Sunday arrested Brigadier General Jaber Mahrez Ibrahim, who previously commanded the 138th Air Defense Brigade in the town of Saida in rural Daraa under the former regime, following a period of surveillance and monitoring.

The internal security forces stated that initial records and investigations indicated Ibrahim's involvement in issuing orders for killings, arrests, and the suppression of protesters. He is also accused of participating in military campaigns targeting villages and towns in eastern rural Daraa, pursuing civilians, and attacking their homes.

Investigations further suggest he was directly responsible for the Saida housing massacre, which left around 120 people dead. His name has also been linked to systematic arrest and torture operations affecting many residents of the province, including the child Hamza al-Khatib.

The internal security forces emphasized that this operation is part of ongoing efforts to pursue those involved in crimes and violations against Syrians and to bring them before the competent judiciary in accordance with legal procedures.