Syrian city; cradle of the 2011 revolution
Syrian authorities have detained several former officers, including pilots and generals, for alleged planning and executing airstrikes on populated areas during the civil war. The arrests form part of a broader accountability push by the new authorities since Assad’s collapse in 2024, with investigations linked to airbases and command centers.
Parliament has convened for the first time under a five-year transitional framework after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. The assembly includes appointees by President al-Sharaa and elected members, with debates over representation, a new constitution, and transitional justice shaping the agenda.
The United Nations chief has urged the immediate removal of sanctions on Syria as he concludes a two-day visit, stressing Syria’s crossroads and the need for investment to rebuild infrastructure, institutions and livelihoods. He has met interim leadership, civil society and UN peacekeepers, while calling for international support to accelerate recovery and safe returns for refugees.
A Damascus criminal court has sentenced ousted president Bashar al‑Assad, his brother Maher and several senior former officials — including Atef Najib, who is in custody — to death for murders, torture and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s 14‑year conflict. The rulings have been issued in absentia for Assad and Maher, who are in Russia.
Authorities across Syria have detained multiple former generals and officers linked to abuses under Bashar al-Assad. The arrests, spanning Damascus, Aleppo and Latakia, come as the regime seeks accountability for past crimes while maintaining control amid a fractured state.