The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two former Syrian intelligence officials under the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad with war crimes, according to an indictment unsealed on Monday in the Northern District of Illinois.
The indictment accuses Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, both ex-officers in Syria’s Air Force Intelligence, of conspiring to inflict cruel and inhuman treatment on detainees, including U.S. citizens, during the Syrian civil war.
Prosecutors allege that from 2012 to 2019, detainees at Mezzeh Military Airport, also known as Mezzeh Prison near Damascus, were subjected to brutal torture methods. Victims reportedly endured whipping, electrocution, burns, prolonged hanging by their wrists, and threats of rape and death. Detainees were also falsely told their family members had been killed, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Both officials remain at large, with warrants issued for their arrest. Attempts to contact them have been unsuccessful, the Justice Department said.
The charges come in the aftermath of the Syrian civil war, which spanned 13 years and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The war displaced millions, caused one of the most significant refugee crises in modern history, and devastated Syria’s economy.
Over the weekend, Syrian rebels brought an end to more than five decades of Assad family rule after a rapid advance through the country, marking a pivotal moment in Syria’s history.
This indictment underscores a broader push for accountability for crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.
