Latest news with #Wassimal-Assad
Jordan News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Syria: Arrest of Bashar al-Assad's Cousin - Jordan News
Syria's General Intelligence Directorate, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, has arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of the deposed Syrian regime leader, in a tightly coordinated security operation carried out by a special task force unit. اضافة اعلان The security force successfully lured Wassim into a well-planned ambush, leading to his arrest without resistance. Wassim al-Assad is considered one of the most prominent figures involved in drug trafficking and has been linked to multiple criminal activities during the former regime's rule, according to Syria TV. The operation comes as part of ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to pursue fugitives and enhance stability, in the context of a continuing campaign against organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, according to a statement by the Ministry of Interior. The U.S. Treasury Department had previously listed Wassim al-Assad—alongside Nouh Zeiter—on its sanctions list in late March of last year, citing their support for the deposed regime through the production and smuggling of Captagon. About a month later, the European Union also added Wassim al-Assad's name, along with two other Assad family members, to its sanctions list for the same reason.
Roya News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Syria arrests cousin of toppled leader Assad over drug trafficking, militia ties
Syrian security forces have arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by the state-run SANA news agency on Saturday. Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for his leadership of a pro-regime paramilitary group and his role in the trafficking of narcotics, including the widely smuggled amphetamine-like drug Captagon. His arrest comes months after Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebellion in December, which forced him to flee to Moscow. Since the collapse of the former regime, many of Assad's relatives and top aides have either gone into hiding or left the country. Syria's new security forces have been actively pursuing figures from the previous government, particularly those connected to the country's notorious intelligence agencies, long accused of widespread human rights violations. Human rights organizations have urged the new authorities to establish a full transitional justice process aimed at holding former officials accountable for abuses committed during Assad's rule.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Syrian security forces detain cousin of toppled leader Assad
SYRIA'S security forces have detained Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad, state news agency SANA said on Saturday. Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for leading a paramilitary force backing Assad's army and for trafficking drugs including the amphetamine-like drug captagon. Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December and fled to Moscow. Most of his family members and inner circle either fled Syria or went underground. Syria's new security forces have been pursuing members of the former administration - mainly those involved in the feared security branches accused of rights abuses. Rights groups have called for a fully-fledged transitional justice process to hold them to account.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria says Assad cousin involved in drug trade arrested in border ambush - Region
Syrian authorities arrested Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, the interior ministry said Saturday, in one of the most high-profile arrests since the former president's ouster. Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December with only a handful of confidants, abandoning senior officials and security officers, some of whom have reportedly fled to neighbouring countries or taken refuge in the coastal heartland of Assad's Alawite minority. An interior ministry statement said that intelligence services and other authorities managed to "lure the criminal Wassim al-Assad", carrying out a "well-planned ambush that resulted in his successful arrest". He is "considered among the most prominent drug traffickers and people involved in a number of crimes during the period of the former regime", the statement said, without elaborating on the other allegations against him. While Wassim al-Assad did not hold high office, he is the first prominent figure from the Assad family to be arrested since Islamist-led forces toppled the government on December 8, ending five decades of one-family rule. The US Treasury sanctioned him in 2023, saying he had led a paramilitary unit and was "a key figure in the regional drug trafficking network". State news agency SANA, citing an unidentified security source in Homs province, said Wassim al-Assad was arrested on the Syria-Lebanon border. A security source, requesting anonymity, told AFP he was arrested Saturday in the Tal Kalakh area, in Homs province near the frontier. In recent years, Wassim al-Assad, who called himself a "customs broker", posted images of himself on social media near luxury cars, sometimes appearing in military clothing and bearing arms or shooting, at times alongside other armed men. Since taking power, the new authorities have occasionally announced the arrest of Assad-era security and other officials. In April, Syrian authorities said security forces had arrested Sultan al-Tinawi, a former officer in the feared air force intelligence, one of the Assad family's most trusted security agencies. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Syria detains Bashar al-Assad's cousin Wassim al-Assad
SYRIA'S security forces have detained Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad, state news agency SANA said on Saturday. Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for leading a paramilitary force backing Assad's army and for trafficking drugs including the amphetamine-like drug captagon. Bashar al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel insurgency in December and fled to Moscow. Most of his family members and inner circle either fled Syria or went underground. Syria's new security forces have been pursuing members of the former administration - mainly those involved in the feared security branches accused of rights abuses. Rights groups have called for a fully-fledged transitional justice process to hold them to account.
