A New Era in Syria: War Crimes Pursuit Begins as Assad Flees

AFP | Geneva, Switzerland
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Syria's Islamist militant leader, Abu Mohammed Al-Golani, now known as Ahmed Al-Sharaa, vowed on Tuesday to pursue accountability for war crimes and torture committed by the regime of ousted president Bashar al-Assad. Following Assad’s abrupt departure from Syria after a stunning Islamist-led offensive, Sharaa promised to target former senior government officials, particularly those implicated in the brutal crackdown on opposition forces and civilians.

The collapse of Assad’s five-decade rule came after a swift military campaign by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which successfully captured the capital, Damascus, and ousted the dictator. Sharaa, who now leads the opposition alliance, emphasized that no one involved in the suffering of the Syrian people would escape justice. "We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, and officers involved in torturing the Syrian people," he stated. His administration also promised rewards for information that could lead to the arrest of war criminals who fled abroad.

The collapse of Assad's government marks a pivotal moment in Syria's long-running conflict, which began in 2011 with a democracy movement that was met with brutal repression. The war, which has claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions, is now at a turning point. As rebel forces move to consolidate their hold over the country, efforts are underway to provide essential services to the people and begin the rebuilding process.

In parallel, the United Nations is seizing this opportunity to investigate the crimes committed under Assad's regime. Investigators are optimistic that with Assad gone, access to key evidence—such as videos and documents showing the full extent of abuses—will become more feasible.

Despite the optimism in rebel-held areas, Syria remains volatile. Israel has launched multiple air strikes, targeting military sites and suspected chemical weapons facilities to weaken Assad’s remnants. Meanwhile, the fallout from Assad’s regime continues to reverberate, with thousands of Syrians rejoicing at their newfound freedom and others anxiously searching for missing loved ones in the regime's infamous prisons.