Syrian Forces Arrest More Than 50 in Aleppo Campaign Against Former Regime Members

For three consecutive days, Syrian security forces have combed Aleppo and its surrounding countryside in a sweeping campaign against remnants of Bashar Assad’s ousted regime. More than 50 people have been detained, according to sources in Aleppo’s Internal Security Directorate cited by Asharq Al-Awsat.

The operation, led by Internal Security forces and the Counterterrorism Department, has targeted former regime leaders, officers, personnel and informants accused of war crimes and abuses against civilians. It is the second campaign of its kind in Aleppo this year.

Among those arrested is Brig. Gen. Hamada Ali Murad, a military pilot from the town of Nubl. The sources accuse him of responsibility for numerous violations against civilians and of facilitating alleged illicit activities by members of his family, including the looting of homes, property seizures and property sales.

The campaign followed an extensive assessment of those being targeted, including surveillance and the collection of evidence concerning alleged involvement in crimes. The accusations and individual complaints include war crimes, intimidation, extortion, robbery, and the exploitation and sale of property belonging to civilians and displaced people.

Murad graduated from the 30th class of the Air Force Academy as a helicopter pilot. He served with the 63rd Helicopter Air Brigade at Taftanaz air base, later worked as an instructor and officer at Air Force institutions, and was transferred to Air Force Intelligence in Aleppo after the uprising began. According to the cited sources, he coordinated information about air operations and helped identify areas targeted for bombardment. Security operations in Aleppo and its countryside will continue, the sources said, until wanted former regime personnel and others accused of violence or ties to terrorist groups are arrested.