Hodeidah governor to Asharq Al-Awsat: We are determined to fully liberate Yemen's west coast

For a third straight day, Syrian security forces have swept through Aleppo and the surrounding countryside, targeting former leaders and members of Bashar Assad's ousted regime accused of war crimes.

The campaign is being led by Internal Security forces and the Counterterrorism Department. It is the second such operation in Aleppo this year. Sources at the city's Internal Security Directorate told Asharq Al-Awsat that more than 50 people had been detained, including former officers, personnel and informants.

Among those arrested was Brig. Gen. Hamada Ali Murad, a military pilot from the town of Nubl. The sources accused him of responsibility for numerous violations against civilians and of facilitating alleged illicit activities by members of his family, including the looting of homes, seizure of properties and their sale. The allegations have not been presented as court findings.

The security directorate said the operation followed an extensive assessment of those targeted, surveillance of their activities and the collection of evidence concerning alleged crimes and abuses. Complaints against the suspects included war crimes, intimidation, extortion, robbery, and the exploitation and sale of property belonging to civilians and displaced people.

Murad graduated as a helicopter pilot from the 30th class of the Air Force Academy. According to the sources, he later worked with Air Force Intelligence in Aleppo as a liaison officer, coordinating information about air sorties and identifying areas targeted for bombardment. They also alleged that members of his family used his position to steal and seize homes during the uprising. Security operations, the sources said, will continue until wanted former regime personnel and other suspects have been arrested.