Latest news with #IbrahimHuweija
Nahar Net
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Syrian forces arrest officer suspected in 1977 assassination of Kamal Jumblat
by Naharnet Newsdesk 07 March 2025, 11:34 Syrian security forces arrested a top former intelligence officer suspected of numerous killings, including the 1977 murder of Lebanese opposition leader Kamal Jumblat, the state news agency reported on Thursday. Forces seized Ibrahim Huweija, a former head of air force intelligence, one of the most trusted security agencies of the former ruling Assad family, a security source was quoted as saying by the SANA agency. They made the arrest during clashes with supporters of the deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad in the coastal province of Latakia, described as the fiercest such fighting since his ouster in December. "After thorough monitoring and investigation, our forces in the city of Jableh managed to arrest the criminal General Ibrahim Huweija, the former head of Air Force Intelligence in Syria," SANA quoted the source as saying. Huweija headed air force intelligence from 1987 to 2002, starting under Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. Huweija is rarely seen in public and there is little information available about him. "He is accused of hundreds of assassinations during the era of the criminal Hafez al-Assad, including overseeing the assassination of Kamal Bek Jumblat," the source was quoted as saying. Jumblat, a leader from the Druze religious community, founded the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party and opposed Hafez al-Assad over his troops' intervention in Lebanon during its civil war. He was killed near a Syrian border post on March 16, 1977. His son and successor Walid Jumblat reposted on X the news of Huweija's arrest with the comment: "Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest)."
The National
07-03-2025
- Politics
- The National
More than 70 dead in Syria clashes between HTS forces and pro-Assad militias
More than 70 people have been killed in clashes between security forces for Syria's new government and militias loyal to toppled president Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said on Friday, as violence escalates in the country's coastal region. The fighting saw at least 13 members of Syria's newly formed security forces killed on Thursday in an ambush by militants linked to Mr Al Assad in the area of Jableh, in Latakia province, the government-aligned television network Syria TV reported. That attack was one of the deadliest clashes since rebels led by the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group took control of Syria and formed the new administration. Tension continues to rise in the Latakia region, the heartland of Mr Al Assad's Alawite sect. Elsewhere in the country, demonstrators turned out in Damascus, Hama, Homs and Idlib in support of the operations by the new security forces to secure Jableh, state news agency Sana reported. Authorities imposed overnight curfews on Alawite-populated areas, including Latakia, the port city of Tartus and third city Homs, Sana said. "More than 70 killed and dozens wounded and captured in bloody clashes and ambushes on the Syrian coast between members of the Ministry of Defence and Interior and militants from the defunct regime's army," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a post on X. It said the fighting in Jableh and adjacent villages had killed 48 people in "the most violent attacks against the new authorities since Assad was toppled" in December. The observatory said pro-Assad fighters killed 16 security personnel, while 28 fighters aligned with the ousted president were also killed, along with four civilians. The monitor said most of the security personnel killed were from the former rebel stronghold of Idlib in the north-west. Amid the violence, security forces also captured and arrested a former general intelligence chief, Ibrahim Huweija, who is accused of organising several assassinations during the rule of Hafez Al Assad, Bashar's father and predecessor, including the killing of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Jumblatt. "Our forces in the city of Jableh managed to arrest the criminal General Ibrahim Huweija," Syrian state news agency Sana reported. "He is accused of hundreds of assassinations during the era of the criminal Hafez Al Assad." Mr Al Huweija, who headed air force intelligence from 1987 to 2002, has long been a suspect in the 1977 murder of Jumblatt. Elsewhere in Latakia, security forces clashed with gunmen loyal to an Assad-era special forces commander after authorities reportedly launched helicopter strikes in the village of Beit Ana, the provincial security director said. "The armed groups that our security forces were clashing with in the Latakia countryside were affiliated with the war criminal Suhail Al Hassan," the security director told Sana. Nicknamed "The Tiger", Mr Al Hassan formerly led Syria's special forces and was frequently described as Mr Al Assad's "favourite soldier". He was responsible for key military advances by the Assad government in 2015. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported "strikes launched by Syrian helicopters on armed men in the village of Beit Ana and the surrounding forests, coinciding with artillery strikes on a neighbouring village". Sana said pro-Assad militias had opened fire on "members and equipment of the defence ministry" near the village, killing one security force member and wounding two. A defence ministry source later told Sana that large military reinforcements were being deployed to the Jableh area. Fadel Abdul Ghany, executive director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, said the attacks by pro-Assad elements signalled "a level of planning and organisation that extends beyond isolated or sporadic incidents". "The operational tactics employed, including multi-axis coordination and strategic withdrawal into mountainous terrain post-engagement, reflect elements of well-executed guerrilla warfare," he wrote on X. Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham took control of Syria in December in a lightning offensive that toppled Mr Al Assad. The country's new security forces have since carried out extensive campaigns seeking to root out Assad loyalists from his former bastions. Residents and organisations have reported violations during those campaigns, including the seizing of homes, field executions and kidnappings. Syria's new authorities have described the violations as "isolated incidents" and vowed to pursue those responsible.
Al Arabiya
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syrian forces arrest officer suspected in 1977 murder of Lebanese politician: Agency
Syrian security forces arrested a top former intelligence officer suspected of numerous killings, including the 1977 murder of Lebanese opposition leader Kamal Jumblatt, the state news agency reported on Thursday. Forces seized Ibrahim Huweija, a former head of air force intelligence, one of the most trusted security agencies of the former ruling al-Assad family, a security source was quoted as saying by the SANA agency. They made the arrest during clashes with supporters of the deposed ruler Bashar al-Assad in the coastal province of Latakia, described as the fiercest such fighting since his ouster in December. 'After thorough monitoring and investigation, our forces in the city of Jableh managed to arrest the criminal General Ibrahim Huweija, the former head of Air Force Intelligence in Syria,' SANA quoted the source as saying. Huweija headed air force intelligence from 1987 to 2002, starting under Bashar al-Assad's father Hafez. Huweija is rarely seen in public and there is little information available about him. 'He is accused of hundreds of assassinations during the era of the criminal Hafez al-Assad, including overseeing the assassination of Kamal Bek Jumblatt,' the source was quoted as saying. Jumblatt, a leader from the Druze religious community, founded the Lebanese Progressive Socialist Party and opposed Hafez al-Assad over his troops' intervention in Lebanon during its civil war. He was killed near a Syrian border post on March 16, 1977.
Arab News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
16 killed in ‘most violent' Syria unrest since Assad ouster: monitor
'Our forces in the city of Jableh managed to arrest the criminal General Ibrahim Huweija,' SANA said Huweija, who headed air force intelligence from 1987 to 2002, has long been a suspect in the 1977 murder of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Bek JumblattDAMASCUS: Gunmen loyal to Syria's Bashar Assad killed 16 security personnel on Thursday, a war monitor said, in attacks it described as the 'most violent' since the longtime president's fighting took place in the Mediterranean coastal province of Latakia, the heartland of the ousted president's Alawite minority who were considered bastions of support during his the operation, security forces captured and arrested a former head of air force intelligence, one of the Assad family's most trusted security agencies, state news agency SANA Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes in the coastal town of Jableh and adjacent villages were 'the most violent attacks against the new authorities since Assad was toppled' in said most of the security personnel killed were from the former rebel bastion of Idlib in the northwest.'Our forces in the city of Jableh managed to arrest the criminal General Ibrahim Huweija,' SANA said. 'He is accused of hundreds of assassinations during the era of the criminal Hafez Assad,' Bashar Assad's father and who headed air force intelligence from 1987 to 2002, has long been a suspect in the 1977 murder of Lebanese Druze leader Kamal Bek Jumblatt. His son and successor Walid Jumblatt retweeted the news of his arrest with the comment: 'Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).'At least three of the gunmen in Jableh were killed, the Britain-based Observatory provincial security director said security forces clashed with gunmen loyal to an Assad-era special forces commander in another village in Latakia, after authorities reportedly launched helicopter strikes.'The armed groups that our security forces were clashing with in the Latakia countryside were affiliated with the war criminal Suhail Al-Hassan,' the security director told 'The Tiger,' Hassan led the country's special forces and was frequently described as Assad's 'favorite soldier.' He was responsible for key military advances by the Assad government in Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had earlier reported 'strikes launched by Syrian helicopters on armed men in the village of Beit Ana and the surrounding forests, coinciding with artillery strikes on a neighboring village.'SANA reported that militias loyal to the ousted president had opened fire on 'members and equipment of the defense ministry' near the village, killing one security force member and wounding broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that its photographer Riad Al-Hussein was wounded in the clashes but that he was doing well.A defense ministry source later told SANA that large military reinforcements were being deployed to the Jableh leaders later called in a statement on Facebook for 'peaceful protests' in response to the helicopter strikes, which they said had targeted 'the homes of civilians.'The security forces imposed overnight curfews on Alawite-populated areas, including the port city of Tartus and third city Homs, SANA other cities around the country, crowds gathered 'in support of the security forces,' it erupted after residents of Beit Ana, the birthplace of Suhail Al-Hassan, prevented security forces from arresting a person wanted for trading arms, the Observatory forces subsequently launched a campaign in the area, resulting in clashes with gunmen, it on Thursday, large groups of young men, some bearing arms, gathered in Idlib, in support of the security forces fighting in Latakia, the Observatory broadcast over the loudspeakers of mosques called for 'jihad' against the gunmen, it tensions erupted after at least four civilians were killed during a security operation in Latakia, the monitor said on forces launched the campaign in the Daatour neighborhood of the city on Tuesday after an ambush by 'members of the remnants of Assad militias' killed two security personnel, state media rebels led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham launched a lightning offensive that toppled Assad on December country's new security forces have since carried out extensive campaigns seeking to root out Assad loyalists from his former and organizations have reported violations during those campaigns, including the seizing of homes, field executions and new authorities have described the violations as 'isolated incidents' and vowed to pursue those responsible.
