{
  "id": 300550,
  "title": "The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-phone-book-that-led-us-to-assads-spy-chief-in-hiding-300550",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T23:23:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gyrzn8p94o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the heart of Damascus, a luxury apartment became the stage for a covert operation. Military clad men rummaged through designer apparel and papers, uncovering a treasure trove of photos and certificates, all bearing the name Hussam Luka. Luka, known as \"The Spider,\" was a high-ranking official in the Syrian government, tasked with intelligence and alleged to be behind numerous atrocities. His apartment served as a hub for his clandestine operations, with a notebook containing an array of names and contacts. This notebook was a vital clue in the search for The Spider and his whereabouts. The notebook also held phone numbers linked to Luka during the early days of the Syrian civil war, when he had been a key figure in the regime's efforts to suppress the rebellion. The notebook has since been used to seek justice for the atrocities committed under Luka's watch.",
  "summary": "How we tracked down \"The Spider\" who was once one of the most-feared men in Syria.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "The phone book that led us to Assad's spy chief in hiding",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/the-phone-book-that-led-us-to-assads-spy-chief-in-hiding",
        "published": "2026-08-07T23:23:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}