UAE detains Syrian ex-rebel leader Issam Bouidani

Emirati authorities have detained prominent Syrian military figure Issam Bouidani, known as "Abu Hammam", at Dubai International Airport as he attempted to leave the country, according to Syrian sources.

Bouidani, who assumed leadership of the militant group Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) following the death of its founder Zahran Alloush in 2015, currently holds a senior position within Syria’s new Ministry of Defence. He has recently played a role in efforts to dissolve his former faction and integrate it into the emerging military structure under the new administration.

A Syrian source told news outlet Arabi21 that both Bouidani and former Syrian opposition coalition member Yasser Dalwan were detained by Emirati authorities. No official explanation has yet been provided for their arrest.

Some Syrian news outlets linked the detentions to an Interpol arrest warrant reportedly filed by the fallen regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Other reports have speculated that Bouidani’s detention may be connected to the case of human rights activist Razan Zaitouneh, who disappeared in areas formerly controlled by Jaish al-Islam, with longstanding accusations that members of the faction were involved in her abduction and possible killing.

Bouidani had previously met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and expressed his willingness to disband Jaish al-Islam and integrate its fighters into the newly established Syrian army, now overseen by the Ministry of Defence.

Following those developments, Defence Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra appointed Bouidani as the commander of the army’s 70th Division.

His detention comes at a politically sensitive moment for the new Syrian government.

Relations between the UAE and Syria’s new leadership have been warming significantly, with Sharaa visiting Abu Dhabi recently for talks with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed. Several official UAE delegations have also travelled to Damascus in the aftermath of Assad’s downfall, signalling a broader regional realignment.

Neither the UAE government nor the Syrian authorities have issued official statements regarding Bouidani's detention.