Lebanon extradites ex-Assad general to Syria for trial over alleged crimes
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Lebanon on Wednesday extradited a former Syrian military officer under ousted President Bashar Assad and he will be put on trial in Syria, the Interior Ministry said. Maj. Gen. Adel Issa is the first military officer to be turned over by Lebanon since Assad’s fall in late 2024. Lebanon’s judicial authorities decided on Tuesday to deliver Issa to Syria,…
Damascus, Syria (AP) — Lebanon extradited former Syrian military officer Maj. Gen. Adel Issa to Syria on Wednesday, where he will face trial for alleged crimes, the Interior Ministry announced. This marks the first time Lebanon has extradited a military officer since the Assad regime fell in late 2024. Issa is the commander of the Syrian army's 17th Division and the commander of ground forces in Deir el-Zour until 2016.
Syrian officials accused him of intentional killing of over two persons, torture resulting in death, and acts of aggression aimed at inciting civil war and sectarian strife. Lebanon's judicial authorities authorized Issa's extradition following his questioning over the alleged crimes. Syria's Interior Ministry had requested Lebanon hand over Issa to Syria for trial based on the 1951 agreement between the two nations, which requires suspected criminals to face justice.
Following the Assad family's ouster in December 2024, many military and security officers fled to Lebanon, some of whom remain there. Several other former security officials accused of atrocities have been arrested and tried in Syria. Recently, a Syrian court sentenced Assad and his brother Maher to death in absentia, while Brig.
Gen. Atef Najib, the eldest brother, became the highest-ranking security official sentenced to death while in custody. The Assad brothers have since fled to Russia.
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