Assad’s relatives arrested trying to escape in Lebanon, officials say

Swiss federal prosecutors indicted Rifaat in March. He was accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering murders and torture more than four decades ago. Assad’s uncle led the artillery unit that shelled the Syrian city of Hama and left thousands dead. Since then, he has become known in his country by the nickname “Butcher of Hama”, according to AP.

Thousands of Syrians reportedly entered Lebanon illegally on the night of Assad’s fall in early December. According to the international news agency, the trips to the neighboring country took place as soon as the Syrian insurgent forces entered Damascus.

Lebanese authorities also reported that dozens of members of the Syrian Army have been arrested since the beginning of the month. More than 20 members of the Syrian Army’s elite 4th Armored Division, as well as military intelligence officers and other allies of Assad’s security forces were detained in Lebanon, some of them while trying to sell their weapons, judicial and security officials told Reuters. AP.

Lebanon’s Public Ministry also received a request from Interpol for the former director of Intelligence of the Syrian Army to be arrested in the country. Lebanon’s interim Prime Minister Najib Mikati previously told Reuters that Lebanon would cooperate with Interpol’s request to arrest Jamil al-Hassan.