Lebanon detains Assad-era Syrian officer wanted by Damascus

Lebanese authorities have detained a former Syrian army officer, Adel Issa, following an arrest warrant issued by Damascus accusing him of "killing and crimes against humanity." The 67-year-old former officer, who served in the Syrian army's 17th brigade under the former regime, was apprehended on Friday when he visited his country's embassy in Beirut for administrative purposes.

Judicial officials reported that embassy staff discovered the arrest warrant filed in absentia for crimes allegedly committed during Issa's service. They subsequently alerted Lebanese authorities, leading to his detention. The suspect remains in custody while Lebanon's public prosecutor has requested the extradition file from his Syrian counterpart.

Syrian authorities have intensified arrests of individuals accused of committing crimes during the country's 13-year civil war since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Trials for such cases began in April.

Lebanon and Syria have expressed a desire to improve relations since the ouster of Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah, a key ally of the former Syrian regime. Historically, Syria exercised significant influence over Lebanon for decades, with accusations of numerous assassinations in the country. Since 2024, officials from both nations have engaged in discussions and agreed to cooperate on various issues, including security.