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BEIRUT (AP) — Authorities at Beirut airport arrested the wife and daughter of a cousin of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad on Friday for attempting to leave the country with allegedly forged passports, according to Lebanese judicial and security officials. This incident followed the departure of Assad’s uncle the previous day.
Rasha Khazem, the spouse of Duraid Assad—who is the son of former Syrian Vice President Rifaat Assad—and their daughter, Shams, reportedly entered Lebanon illegally and were trying to fly to Egypt when they were apprehended. They are currently in the custody of Lebanon’s General Security. In a contrasting turn of events, Rifaat Assad had successfully left Lebanon a day earlier using his genuine passport without hindrance.
The officials shared this information on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
In a separate development, Swiss authorities announced an indictment against Rifaat Assad in March, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from alleged orders to murder and torture individuals over forty years ago.
Rifaat Assad, known for his brutal tactics, commanded the artillery that devastated the city of Hama, leading to the deaths of thousands. He is often referred to as the “Butcher of Hama” due to his infamous military actions.
The recent indictment marks the continued international scrutiny surrounding Rifaat Assad, especially concerning his actions during the brutal crackdown in Hama.
As the conflict in Syria persists, tens of thousands of Syrians are believed to have crossed into Lebanon illegally following the recent fall of Assad’s regime earlier this month, when insurgent forces took control of Damascus.
In addition, Lebanese officials reported that over 20 individuals linked to the former Syrian Army’s 4th Division, including military intelligence officers and Assad’s security personnel, have been apprehended in Lebanon. Some of these arrests were made when individuals attempted to sell their weapons.
The public prosecution office in Lebanon also received an Interpol notice for the arrest of Jamil al-Hassan, the former director of Syrian intelligence under Assad. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has stated that the country will comply with Interpol’s request regarding al-Hassan’s arrest.
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