Syria detains Assad-era general accused of bloody crackdown on protests
News Source
β’Mon, 07 Sep 2026 19:03:29 +0000
π° What Happened
Syrian authorities arrested former Major-General Mohammed Ali Durgham. They accuse him of taking part in the 1982 Hama massacre. He is also accused of ordering troops to shoot unarmed protesters in 2011. The country's Internal Security Forces announced the arrest on Monday. They labelled him a prominent officer of the old regime. Officials say he issued direct orders to fire on people near Damascus.
π The Backstory
Durgham served in the army's feared Fourth Division, which was run by Assad's brother Maher al-Assad. He was a field commander there between 2009 and 2013. He started as a squad commander in the Defence Brigades during the events in Hama in 1982. The new Syrian government is led by figures from the former rebel group HTS. They are trying to bring officials from the old regime to justice. Human Rights Watch named Durgham among generals who ordered troops to shoot at protesters.
π― Why It Matters
Holding old leaders accountable helps a country heal after years of war. Many Syrians want justice for the violence they survived. These trials test whether the new government can truly change things.
Syrian authorities arrested former Major-General Mohammed Ali Durgham. They accuse him of taking part in the 1982 Hama massacre. He is also accused of ordering troops to shoot unarmed protesters in 2011. The country's Internal Security Forces announced the arrest on Monday. They labelled him a prominent officer of the old regime. Officials say he issued direct orders to fire on people near Damascus.
Durgham served in the army's feared Fourth Division, which was run by Assad's brother Maher al-Assad. He was a field commander there between 2009 and 2013. He started as a squad commander in the Defence Brigades during the events in Hama in 1982. The new Syrian government is led by figures from the former rebel group HTS. They are trying to bring officials from the old regime to justice. Human Rights Watch named Durgham among generals who ordered troops to shoot at protesters.
Holding old leaders accountable helps a country heal after years of war. Many Syrians want justice for the violence they survived. These trials test whether the new government can truly change things.