Lebanon on Wednesday extradited Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's top general, who will be put on trial for crimes committed against civilians during the country's 14-year-long civil war, authorities said.
Major General Adel Issa is the first military officer to be turned over by Lebanon since al-Assad’s fall in December 2024.
Beirut decided on Tuesday to deliver Issa to Syria, after questioning him over crimes he allegedly committed during al-Assad’s 24-year reign.
Damascus issued a warrant against Issa over alleged crimes including intentional killing of more than two people, torture resulting in death, and acts of aggression aimed at inciting civil war and interethnic hatred, Syria’s Interior Ministry said.
The ministry added that Issa was the commander of the Syrian army’s 17th Division and in charge of ground forces in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour until 2016. The ministry posted a photo of Issa wearing a prison uniform.
