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The United States has announced new charges against two former Syrian intelligence officials, accusing them of orchestrating war crimes, including torture and inhuman treatment of detainees.
Let’s bring you up to speed: Over the weekend, Bashar al-Assad’s government collapsed in a swift and decisive 10-day offensive led by Syrian rebel forces, resulting in the seizure of the capital, Damascus. The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), known for its controversial ties to terror organizations, spearheaded the operation, toppling Assad’s regime with surprising speed. Assad fled the country and was granted asylum in Moscow, marking the end of his decades-long rule.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, the Department of Justice revealed charges against Jamil Hassan, former head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, a brigadier general in the same unit, accusing them of orchestrating systemic war crimes at Mezzeh Military Prison in Damascus during the Syrian civil war. The indictment alleges that between 2012 and 2019, Hassan and Mahmoud directed a campaign of brutal detention and torture aimed at silencing dissent against the Assad regime. Detainees, including American citizens, were subjected to electrocution, acid burns, beatings with cables, and having their toenails forcibly removed. Psychological torture was also rampant, with prisoners exposed to the screams of others being tortured and forced to share cells with decomposing bodies.
Following the fall of Damascus and the capture of Mezzeh Military Prison by rebel forces, evidence of the atrocities was uncovered. Rebels discovered torture devices, makeshift cells where prisoners were hung by their wrists, a “human mechanical press,” and walls stained with blood. Human remains and documents believed to be evidence of detainees’ deaths under torture were also found. Witness testimonies have corroborated these findings, painting a grim picture of systemic abuse overseen by Hassan and Mahmoud.
The current whereabouts of Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud remain unknown. Both men are believed to have fled Syria as the Assad regime collapsed, with reports suggesting they may have sought refuge in countries sympathetic to the former Syrian government.
US officials react: In a statement, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said, “The Assad regime may have fallen, but our commitment to accountability continues unabated. For the second time in a year, the Department of Justice has brought charges against those who committed war crimes against US citizens, deploying a previously unused federal law to hold accountable individuals who engaged in cruel and inhuman atrocities during armed conflict.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray also chimed in, saying, “Hassan and Mahmoud allegedly oversaw the systematic use of cruel and inhumane treatment on perceived enemies of the Syrian regime, including American citizens. The FBI is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure these alleged war criminals are held accountable for their actions and justice is brought to the victims of these atrocities.”
