US Charges Senior Syrian Military Officials with War Crimes

In a landmark move, the United States Justice Department has charged two senior Syrian military officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, with war crimes, including torture and inhumane treatment of detainees. This is the first time the US has criminally prosecuted high-ranking Syrian officials for human rights abuses committed during Syria’s ongoing 13-year civil war.

The indictment, unsealed on Monday, accuses Hassan, the former head of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate, and Mahmoud, a brigadier general in the same unit, of directing brutal detention practices targeting opposition figures, including US citizens, at Mezzeh prison in Damascus. The charges include acts of electrocution, acid burns, and physical beatings inflicted on prisoners between 2012 and 2019.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the importance of accountability, stating, “Hassan and Mahmoud allegedly oversaw the systematic use of cruel and inhumane treatment on perceived enemies of the Syrian regime, including American citizens.” The case represents a significant step towards justice for the victims of the brutal practices committed by the Syrian regime during its civil war, shedding light on the international fight against impunity for human rights abuses.