Syria detains Assad-era general accused of crackdown and massacre links

Syrian authorities have announced the arrest of former Major-General Mohammed Ali Durgham, accusing him of involvement in the 1982 Hama massacre and of ordering troops to fire on unarmed protesters in 2011. The detention was confirmed by the country's Internal Security Forces on Monday. Officials described Durgham as a prominent officer in the military establishment under the former regime.

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The authorities said Durgham had been a squad commander in the Defence Brigades during the events in Hama Governorate in 1982. They also accused him of issuing a direct order to fire on protesters in the Damascus countryside during the 2011 uprising. Human rights groups had previously cited a Syrian army defector who said Durgham was among generals who ordered troops to shoot at protesters when his unit was deployed to areas in and around Damascus.

Durgham later served as a field commander in the army's Fourth Division between 2009 and 2013, according to the account released by the authorities. That unit was commanded by Maher al-Assad, the brother of former President Bashar al-Assad. The arrest comes as Syria's post-Assad authorities continue to target figures linked to the former security and military apparatus.

The case is significant because it connects two of the most sensitive episodes in modern Syrian history: the Hama crackdown under Hafez al-Assad and the violent response to anti-government protests in 2011. The 1982 siege of Hama remains one of the deadliest episodes of state violence in the country's modern history, with estimates of the death toll ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 over nearly a month. The 2011 crackdown also marked the start of a wider conflict that reshaped Syria's politics and security institutions.

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The arrest also reflects the approach of the current authorities, who are led by figures from the former rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. They took power after Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024, and have since said they are seeking accountability for abuses committed under the previous system. According to the information provided, dozens of former security officials have already been detained since the change of power.

What remains unclear is whether Durgham will face formal charges, where he is being held, and what legal process will follow. It is also not yet clear whether the arrest is linked to a wider investigation into former military and security commanders. Further announcements from the authorities will be watched for signs of how broadly the new government intends to pursue cases tied to the Assad era.

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