Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

World

Syrian security forces kill high-profile Assad-era commander in raid

Syrian security forces on Sunday killed a senior military officer of the former Bashar Al Assad regime, who played a major role in a "mutiny" against the country's new government last year, state television reported. Firas Hammoud died after opening fire at anti-terrorism and other security personnel as they stormed his hideout in the city of Safita. That led to them "dealing with him and…

Syrian security forces kill high-profile Assad-era commander in raid

On Sunday, Syrian security forces executed a senior military officer from the Assad regime, Firas Hammoud, during an operation in the city of Safita, according to state television. Hammoud, who served as a commander in the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, known as the Tiger Forces, played a significant role in the mutiny against the new government last year.

The Tiger Forces, closely tied to Russia, were instrumental in capturing Aleppo in 2016 and regaining the northern Idlib governorate in 2020. After the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Hammoud led remnants of the former military and outlaws in the Syrian coast, reportedly negotiating prisoner swaps and forming other armed groups to strike at government buildings and target civilians.

State media reported that Hammoud was involved in armed mutiny operations that resulted in the deaths or capture of security personnel belonging to the new government. The new authorities have prepared files on 6,000 former regime members for prosecution for crimes committed during the 2011 to 2024 civil war.

Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

This story

This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.

Read the original at thenationalnews.com →

More in World

More from Sunday 30 August →