Former Assad Regime General Arrested in Latakia

Welat TV – Erbil

Syrian Internal Security Forces in Latakia announced the arrest of a former senior officer in the Assad regime accused of involvement in war crimes and arbitrary detention of civilians during the years of the Syrian uprising.

In a statement, the Internal Security Forces said their units, in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Department, arrested Major General Jalal Kamel Saqr, the former commander of the 18th Infantry Brigade of the Assad regime forces. Saqr is originally from the village of Basin in the al-Qardaha countryside.

According to the security forces, investigations and intelligence indicated that Saqr was involved in war crimes and arbitrary arrests targeting civilians during the Syrian uprising.

The statement said Saqr participated in military operations against civilians in Damascus and Eastern Ghouta and supervised campaigns of arbitrary arrests in Daraa Governorate.

The authorities added that Saqr later served as chief of staff and deputy commander of the 14th Division before becoming its commander, a position he held until mid-2016.

He subsequently joined the Operations Directorate in Damascus, where he remained until his retirement from service on May 1, 2017.

The Internal Security Forces said Saqr has been referred to the relevant judicial authorities as part of ongoing efforts to hold individuals accused of abuses and violations against Syrians accountable through legal procedures.