The wife and daughter of Duraid Assad, a cousin of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad, were arrested Friday at Beirut’s airport as they attempted to leave the country using allegedly forged passports, according to Lebanese judicial and security officials.
Rasha Khazem, the wife of Duraid Assad, and their daughter, Shams, were reportedly smuggled into Lebanon illegally before their attempt to board a flight to Egypt. Lebanese General Security is holding the two for questioning. The officials also confirmed that Rifaat Assad, the father of Duraid and uncle of Bashar Assad, departed Lebanon the previous day using his legitimate passport and was not stopped.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Rifaat Assad, who was the brother of Syria’s former ruler Hafez Assad and uncle to Bashar Assad, is a highly controversial figure. Known as the “Butcher of Hama,” he is accused of leading the artillery unit responsible for the 1982 massacre in Hama, which left thousands dead.
Earlier this year, Swiss federal prosecutors indicted Rifaat on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to his actions during the Hama massacre.
The arrests of Rasha Khazem and Shams Assad come amid a wave of detentions in Lebanon following Bashar Assad’s recent fall from power. Lebanese officials reported that tens of thousands of Syrians, including members of Assad’s security forces and military, have entered Lebanon illegally in the aftermath of insurgent forces entering Damascus.
More than 20 former members of Syria’s 4th Division, military intelligence, and others affiliated with Assad’s regime have been arrested in Lebanon, some while attempting to sell weapons.
In addition, Lebanon’s public prosecution office received an Interpol notice requesting the arrest of Jamil al-Hassan, the former director of Syrian intelligence under Assad. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that the country would cooperate with Interpol regarding the arrest request.
The arrests highlight the ongoing fallout from the Assad regime’s collapse and Lebanon’s role as a neighboring state dealing with the influx of former Syrian regime affiliates. The case also underscores ongoing efforts by international authorities to hold figures connected to the Assad regime accountable for alleged crimes.
