https://arab.news/jpwnp
- Shadi Smadi was a commander during the Assad regime, responsible for a special guard unit
- The Internal Security Command in Daraa Governorate, southwest of Damascus, announced his arrest on Tuesday
LONDON: Syrian authorities arrested another Assad-era suspect on Tuesday for crimes against the Syrian people under the former regime during the country’s civil unrest.
The Internal Security Command in Daraa Governorate, southwest of Damascus, announced the arrest of “criminal” Shadi Smadi, who was a commander in the Assad regime.
The ministry of interior accuses Smadi of being responsible for the special guard unit affiliated with Ghiyath Dala, the commander of the so-called “Ghaith Forces” in the Fourth Division of the Assad regime, who is also wanted by the authorities.
Investigations revealed that Smadi played a leading role in military operations against rebels in Daraa, particularly in the city’s downtown area in 2021, the SANA news agency reported.
He was found to have committed serious offences against civilians, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and involvement in the displacement of residents, the agency added.
Since the fall of the Assad regime last December, the new government in Damascus has arrested several suspects, including army officers, for crimes committed against Syrians during the country’s civil conflict.