Lebanon hands over former Assad-era general to Syria in first such extradition

The Syrian Interior Ministry said on Wednesday that Lebanese authorities have handed over a former senior Syrian army officer to Damascus to face charges including murder and torture, marking the first extradition of a military officer from the era of Bashar Assad by Lebanon since the former president was ousted in 2024.

Major General Adel Issa, the former commander of the Syrian Army’s 17th Division who later led ground forces in Deir Ezzor, was transferred to Syrian authorities after being detained by Lebanese officials earlier this month.

According to the ministry, Issa is wanted under an arrest warrant for “premeditated murder, facilitating the commission of a felony, intentional killing of more than two people, torture leading to death, and acts of violence aimed at inciting civil war and sectarian conflict.”

The ministry added that his case is now before an investigating judge in Damascus, pending a decision on whether to refer him to the Damascus Criminal Court.

Two sources familiar with Issa’s arrest and extradition said he denied the charges while in Lebanese custody.

This extradition could set a precedent for dozens of former Syrian security and military officials believed to have fled across the border after opposition fighters led by current President Ahmed Shar’a ousted Assad in December 2024.