[Regnum] In August, French judicial authorities issued arrest warrants for seven former Syrian officials, including former President Bashar al-Assad. This was reported by France 24, citing a statement by lawyers from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
The arrest warrant was allegedly issued in connection with the bombing of the city of Homs in 2012, which killed two journalists: American Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik.
In addition to the former president, the warrants also concern his brother Maher al-Assad, intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk and former army chief of staff Ali Ayoub. All are accused of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The first reports of chemical weapons use in Syria appeared in December 2012, when, according to the Syrian opposition, a chemical attack killed people in a suburb of Homs. Later, in July 2013, the UN announced that it had received 13 reports of chemical weapons use in Syria. A month later, experts confirmed five more cases, including in Eastern Ghouta, where up to 1,700 people were allegedly killed by shelling with nerve gas. The Syrian government denied these allegations.
In December 2024, armed groups of the Syrian opposition launched a large-scale offensive against government forces. On December 8, the Syrian army left Damascus, and the militants declared that power had passed into their hands. Assad resigned and left the country, receiving political asylum in Russia. Ahmed al-Sharaa became the head of the interim government.
Related:
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Bashar al-Assad 08/31/2025 Turkey says over 450,000 Syrians returned since Assad’s fall
Bashar al-Assad 09/02/2025 UN nuclear watchdog finds uranium traces at Syrian reactor that Israel bombed in 2007
Bashar al-Assad 09/02/2025 For Armenians and Gaza: Israel and Türkiye are again balancing on the brink of war
Bashar al-Assad 08/31/2025 Turkey says over 450,000 Syrians returned since Assad’s fall
Related:
International Federation for Human Rights: 2024-09-11 Natives of Chechnya convicted in Belgium for plotting terrorist attack
International Federation for Human Rights: 2023-04-21 Over 100 rights groups lobby UN to not adopt IHRA antisemitism definition
International Federation for Human Rights: 2023-04-05 Paris Criminal Court to try three senior Syrian officials
International Federation for Human Rights: 2024-09-11 Natives of Chechnya convicted in Belgium for plotting terrorist attack
International Federation for Human Rights: 2023-04-21 Over 100 rights groups lobby UN to not adopt IHRA antisemitism definition
International Federation for Human Rights: 2023-04-05 Paris Criminal Court to try three senior Syrian officials
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Maher al-Assad 08/20/2025 Iraq, Lebanon bust ‘one of the largest’ Captagon factories in Middle East
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Maher al-Assad 01/10/2025 Sulaimani counter-terrorism forces arrest several ISIS suspects
Maher al-Assad 08/20/2025 Iraq, Lebanon bust ‘one of the largest’ Captagon factories in Middle East
Maher al-Assad 01/31/2025 Four killed in Sulaimani drone attack
Maher al-Assad 01/10/2025 Sulaimani counter-terrorism forces arrest several ISIS suspects
Related:
Ali Mamlouk 12/14/2024 Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle: Who are they and where are they now?
Ali Mamlouk 12/14/2024 Hezbollah said to have helped Assad officials flee to Lebanon, sparking furor in Beirut
Ali Mamlouk 12/10/2024 Fleeing Syrians stopped after trying to force their way into Lebanon, exc. senior Assad officials escorted by Hezbollah
Ali Mamlouk 12/14/2024 Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle: Who are they and where are they now?
Ali Mamlouk 12/14/2024 Hezbollah said to have helped Assad officials flee to Lebanon, sparking furor in Beirut
Ali Mamlouk 12/10/2024 Fleeing Syrians stopped after trying to force their way into Lebanon, exc. senior Assad officials escorted by Hezbollah
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Ali Ayoub 02/14/2022 Jordanian authorities found bodies of two smugglers with drugs
Ali Ayoub 02/13/2022 Jordan confiscates large amounts of drugs and weapons
Ali Ayoub 02/14/2022 Jordanian authorities found bodies of two smugglers with drugs
Ali Ayoub 02/13/2022 Jordan confiscates large amounts of drugs and weapons
Related:
Ahmed al-Sharaa 09/02/2025 SDF denies Damascus reports of clashes in northern Syria
Ahmed al-Sharaa 08/27/2025 Citing October 7, Katz says Israeli troops inside Syria staying put to defend north
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Ahmed al-Sharaa 08/26/2025 Syria’s Sharaa to address UN General Assembly next month, first Syrian leader to do so since 1967
Ahmed al-Sharaa 09/02/2025 SDF denies Damascus reports of clashes in northern Syria
Ahmed al-Sharaa 08/27/2025 Citing October 7, Katz says Israeli troops inside Syria staying put to defend north
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Ahmed al-Sharaa 08/26/2025 Syria’s Sharaa to address UN General Assembly next month, first Syrian leader to do so since 1967