An international arrest warrant has been issued for one of Assad’s top military leaders, Jamil Hassan, who is accused of war crimes. The detention centers run by Air Force Intelligence, where thousands are believed to have died because of torture or neglect, are among the most notorious in Syria. The charges filed with Germany’s Federal Court of Justice claim that Hassan had command responsibility over Air Force Intelligence facilities and that he must have known of the abuse. Former inmates from the largest Air Force Intelligence branch in Damascus have described interrogations replete with sadism. Reacting to the news Friday, survivors of several Air Force Intelligence branches described cautious optimism, and relief.

Source: Washington Post June 08, 2018 20:13 UTC