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Thursday, 8 October 2026dailybeirut.com
World
Internal security forces in Hama detained seven individuals linked to former intelligence and military units for crimes including kidnapping, looting, and massacres.
Security forces in Syria’s Hama province have arrested a group of seven individuals identified as members of the former Assad regime’s apparatus. The Internal Security Forces announced on Thursday that the operation targeted "criminals of the fallen regime" during raids conducted in the Masyaf area and southern rural districts of Hama. Authorities reported that the operations also resulted in the seizure of weapons and ammunition.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the arrests were based on intelligence monitoring and surveillance. Investigations revealed that two detainees, Nabil Adnan Ismail and Ghazi Muhammad Ismail, served as commanders of groups within the Air Force Intelligence militias during the previous government. They are accused of involvement in kidnappings, looting, and massacres, with specific allegations regarding their direct participation in events at the village of Aqrab. The suspects are further charged with abducting civilians and extorting them financially.
Records cited by SANA indicate that brothers Taher Yousef Al-Mohammad and Talal Yousef Al-Mohammad were implicated in suppression and detention operations. Both men served in the Air Force Intelligence directorate and the Scientific Studies and Research Center. Investigators allege they exploited their official positions to access prisoner files and extort money from the families of those detained.
Further investigations uncovered details about other detainees. Faisal Badour reportedly volunteered for armed militias in 2012, participating in military campaigns in the rural areas of Hama and Aleppo. He remained active in these ranks until the collapse of the previous regime. Badour was nicknamed "Farakh Al-Nimr" (Nimr’s Cub) due to his severe criminal conduct and harsh treatment of civilians.
Additionally, records show that detainee Asif Salama volunteered for the forces of the Assad system. Salama worked as an assistant in defense factories until 2018. Competent authorities are currently interrogating all apprehended individuals to complete necessary legal procedures before referring them to the specialized judiciary for appropriate sentencing.
