Syrian authorities arrest main suspect in 2013 Tadamon massacre

Syrian authorities have arrested Amjad Youssef, the main suspect accused of leading the 2013 Tadamon massacre in Damascus.

The arrest took place in the Al-Ghab Plain area of Hama province following a tightly executed security operation involving days of surveillance and tracking.

Youssef, a former military intelligence officer under the Assad regime, was responsible for security operations in southern Damascus during the Syrian uprising.

He was seen in leaked video footage shooting blindfolded civilians who had been detained with their hands bound.

The massacre involved the killing of at least 41 civilians on April 16, 2013, with some reports estimating up to 288 victims, including children.

The victims were executed and buried in mass graves, as documented in videos filmed by the perpetrators themselves.

The arrest marks a significant development in efforts to hold individuals accountable for war crimes committed during the Syrian civil war.

Youssef had been in hiding since the fall of the Assad government in December 2024.

The leaked videos, first appearing in 2022, triggered public outcry and were instrumental in identifying Youssef as a key suspect.

They showed uniformed Syrian army officials and pro-government militias leading blindfolded civilians to execution sites.

Following the regime's fall, Syria's new government launched a security campaign targeting former regime figures.

Public fundraising campaigns offered rewards for information leading to the capture of suspects like Youssef.

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