Syria 'arrests 70% of Assad-era pilots' involved in bombing

Syrian authorities have arrested around 70 percent of the pilots who took part in bombing civilian areas of the country under the former Assad regime, a transitional justice official has said.

Radif Mustafa, director of the Accountability and Oversight Department at Syria's National Commission for Transitional Justice, said efforts were continuing to pursue those implicated in violations and crimes committed during Assad's rule.

Speaking to Syria's official Al-Ikhbariya television channel, Mustafa said uncovering the truth about crimes involving the use of chemical weapons was a right owed to victims and a responsibility of the National Commission for Transitional Justice.

He said accountability for such crimes represented "a national obligation borne by state institutions".

Mustafa added that reparations and compensation for victims were primarily the responsibility of the government, while stressing the need to build an inclusive national narrative around crimes and violations committed by the former regime that preserves victims' rights.

He said Syria's transitional justice process remained at an early stage and required greater efforts and resources to achieve its goals of uncovering facts, ensuring accountability and providing reparations.

Mustafa's comments came as Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said authorities were continuing to pursue those involved in the chemical weapons massacre in Eastern Ghouta 13 years ago.

Khattab said a number of people who participated in the attack had already been arrested.

In a post on X on Friday, the minister said images of the victims and the suffering of their families remained present in Syrians' memories, stressing that their right to justice remained intact.

He said authorities would continue pursuing the remaining suspects, adding that "no criminal will escape punishment, no matter how much time passes".

Syrian authorities have announced several arrests in recent months linked to the former regime's chemical weapons programme.

On 29 April, the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of Major General Adnan Abboud Halwa, whom Khattab described at the time as one of the most prominent officers accused of involvement in the Eastern Ghouta chemical weapons massacre.

In May, Syria's mission to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced the arrest of 18 people, including former officers and experts from the Scientific Studies and Research Centre, as part of investigations into the former regime's chemical weapons programme.

The Interior Ministry also announced on 15 July the arrest of Colonel Ahmed Habib Ali, saying he was a chemical weapons specialist who had supervised the manufacture of bombs loaded with sarin gas while working for the former regime.