Syria detains five senior air force officers from Assad era

Syrian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of five senior air force officers and commanders from the previous regime in Tartus province, on suspicion of planning, directing, and carrying out airstrikes targeting populated areas during the years of war in Syria under President Bashar al-Assad. Investigations are ongoing ahead of their referral to the judiciary.

Colonel Abdel Aal Mohammed Abdel Aal, head of internal security in Tartus, said the detainees include pilots, field commanders, and operations room officers. Those arrested are Major General Mohammed Fajr Ali, Brigadier General Pilot Abdullah Ali Maala, Colonel Pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh, Colonel Mohammed Ali Salim, and Major Pilot Taleb Abdel Karim Hassan.

According to Syrian authorities, military investigations and records revealed the involvement of each detainee, based on their position and responsibility, in planning, directing, and executing aerial bombardments. They allegedly used air force assets, air bases, and field command centers to carry out strikes that targeted populated areas.

Abdel Aal added that, according to authorities, these operations attributed to the detainees led to the destruction of residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, forced displacement of civilians, and significant loss of life as a result of targeting populated areas.

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These arrests are part of a broader investigation into former air force personnel over airstrikes carried out during the Syrian conflict. Earlier this month, nine pilots were detained in Latakia province on charges of participating in air raids on Syrian areas during the war years.

The head of internal security in Tartus confirmed that investigations with the detainees are ongoing to determine individual criminal responsibility, ahead of their referral to the competent judiciary in accordance with legal procedures.