In brief
Lebanon has handed over former Syrian general Adel Issa to Damascus amid accusations of war crimes committed during the civil war. The 67‑year‑old, who led forces in Deir Ezzor until 2016, was detained after visiting the Syrian embassy in Beirut and transferred to Syrian custody on 8 August. This marks the first extradition of its kind since Bashar al‑Assad’s fall, following pressure from Syria’s new regime to prosecute ex‑security officials. Issa faces charges of intentional homicide, facilitating felonies, multiple killings, torture and incitement to civil unrest. A referral judge in Damascus will decide whether his case proceeds to court.
Lebanon has handed Syria a former general who served under Bashar al‑Assad, marking the first extradition since the regime fell.
Maj Gen Adel Issa, 67, is accused of a raft of crimes allegedly committed during the Syrian civil war, which ended in December 2024 when rebel forces captured Damascus and Assad fled.
Issa was detained on 8 August after visiting the Syrian embassy in Beirut to complete paperwork and was transferred into Syrian custody a few days later.
The handover follows pressure from Syria’s new authorities on Lebanon to act against former security and military officials who fled across the border.
Syrian interior ministry said Issa led ground forces in Deir Ezzor until 2016. He faces charges including intentional homicide, facilitating a felony, killing more than two people, torture leading to death and crimes of aggression aimed at inciting civil war and sectarian fighting.
Judicial officials told BBC that Issa denied the charges during his arrest. The decision to extradite was made under a 1951 agreement between the two countries.
Issa’s case will now go before a referral judge in Damascus to decide whether it should proceed to a criminal court.
In January, Syria gave Lebanese officials a list of more than 200 former senior officers it wants prosecuted. Since taking power, authorities led by President Ahmed al‑Sharaa have pursued cases against dozens of former officials, and earlier this month a Damascus court sentenced Assad and his brother to death in absentia.
Additional reporting by BBC Arabic's Joya Berbery in Beirut.
