Syria’s new administration has intensified its efforts to track down and arrest individuals associated with the ousted Assad regime, indicating a firm stance against those it perceives as threats to its authority.
State-run Syrian news agency Sana reported on Saturday that several members of the Assad militias had been apprehended in the coastal Latakia region, with weapons and ammunition being seized in the process.
Since an alliance of rebels deposed President Bashar al-Assad three weeks ago, the new administration has prioritized targeting loyalists of the former regime who are seen as undermining its governance.
However, human rights organizations have expressed concerns regarding the transitional government’s approach, alleging arbitrary arrests of individuals who supported the previous administration.
In recent days, Sana has also indicated that security forces are pursuing remnants of the Assad regime in the regions of Tartus, Homs, and Hama.
A significant incident occurred on Wednesday when an attempt to arrest Mohammed Kanjou al-Hassan, the former director of military justice under Assad, led to violent clashes in Tartus, a stronghold of the Alawite minority. Loyalists ambushed security forces, resulting in the deaths of 14 government personnel, according to Syria’s interim interior minister, Mohammed Abdel Rahman.
While some reports suggest that al-Hassan was later captured, officials from Syria’s transitional government have not confirmed this, leaving his current status uncertain.
The media office of Syria’s interim interior ministry stated that the pursuit of Assad loyalists aims to ensure national security, claiming that these individuals had failed to surrender their weapons and resolve their situations within designated timelines.
On Saturday, Lebanese authorities repatriated 70 Syrian military officers who had entered Lebanon illegally, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. An official from the new Syrian administration confirmed the return of military personnel but did not provide specific numbers.
Former officials and military personnel have reportedly fled to Lebanon and Iraq to evade arrest or retaliation.
Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory, stated that reports indicate random arrests of Assad supporters by government security forces, while significant military leaders largely remain unchallenged. He advocated for transitional justice over retribution, emphasizing the need for a just and democratic Syria.
The interior ministry countered Abdulrahman’s claims, asserting that their operations targeted armed loyalists responsible for attacks against the new administration and their associates.
Abdulrahman urged the new authorities to disclose a list of individuals accused of war crimes against Syrians and to collaborate with local communities to ensure fair trials.
The new government is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist group that previously controlled parts of northwestern Syria. Its leader, Ahmed al-Shara, has sought to reassure minority communities, including Alawites, Christians, and Druze, though concerns about potential persecution persist among some members of these groups.
Abdulrahman highlighted the unique opportunity presented to Syria’s new leadership to establish a state that prioritizes the needs of its citizens, wishing for a fresh image for the country and cautioning against repeating the mistakes of the former regime.