The Department of Justice announced on Monday that two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials have been charged with war crimes for their alleged involvement in torturing Americans and other civilians held at a military prison near Damascus. The detainees were reportedly deemed enemies by the Syrian government during the country's civil war.
The two officials, Jamil Hassan, 72, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, 65, were said to have overseen operations at the Mezzeh Military Airport detention facilities, where detainees were subjected to brutal treatment including beatings, electrocutions, hanging by their wrists, acid burns, and toenail removal.
According to US prosecutors, Hassan and Mahmoud created an atmosphere of terror at Mezzeh Prison, where the alleged war crimes took place. The charges against them include conspiracy to commit war crimes through cruel and inhuman treatment, as detailed in an unsealed indictment filed in federal court in Chicago.
Despite warrants being issued for their arrests, both individuals remain at large. The Justice Department emphasized the severity of the allegations and the importance of holding those responsible for such atrocities accountable.
The charges against the former Syrian air force intelligence officers come in the wake of the recent fall of the Assad regime, marking a significant development in the pursuit of justice for victims of human rights abuses during the prolonged conflict in Syria.
