Lebanon is handing over an Assad-era general after war crimes questioning

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s judicial authorities have decided to hand over Maj. Gen. Adel Issa, a former senior Syrian military officer from the Assad era, to Damascus following questioning over alleged war crimes committed during the conflict, officials revealed on Tuesday. This marks the first time Lebanon has extradited a military officer since the Assad regime's downfall in late 2024.

Issa is set to face trial in his home country, though the specifics of the alleged crimes remain undisclosed. The move comes shortly after Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty, a change that will become official once published in the Lebanese Official Gazette. Issa was taken by members of the General Security Directorate and will be transported to the Syrian border to be handed over to Syrian authorities, according to two judicial and two security officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Syrian fighters who opposed Assad and fled to Lebanon following the ouster in December 2024 have since become a concern, with numerous military and security officers accused of atrocities now in Lebanese custody. Last week, a Syrian court sentenced Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia, while their cousin, Brig. Gen. Atef Najib, became the highest-ranking security official to receive a death sentence while still in detention. The Assad brothers have since fled to Russia.