Lebanon no longer a safe haven for former Syrian regime officials

Beirut, Lebanon – Not long after the fall of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, the new government was keen to hunt down members of the former regime.Al-Assad and his brother fled the country hours before the capital Damascus fell to the advancing armed opposition, leaving many top officials and military commanders to fend for themselves.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Will all-out war in Yemen reignite as the Houthis escalate attacks?list 2 of 3‘We harvested more than half the winter wheat crop before the end of July’list 3 of 3Israeli strikes in south Lebanon a ‘violation of international law’: PMend of listMany of them reportedly fled and crossed to neighbouring Lebanon where some top officials were spotted openly in capital, Beirut.Now the Syrian government is trying to get them extradited for war crimes committed during the uprising, which began in 2011.“We are seeking to boost the international judicial cooperation to pursue members of the former regime and extradited to Syria to complete judicial procedures and process,” judge Mustafa al-Qassem, an aide to the Syrian justice minister, said in an interview with state television.Former officia...