The Interior Ministry said security raids conducted over the past two days in Daraa, Aleppo and Idlib resulted in the detention of several individuals wanted for alleged involvement in abuses and security violations during Assad’s rule.

According to a ministry source cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), those arrested include a former commander of the First Corps, a former head of the security and military committee in southern Syria, a former officer in the Republican Guard and a former guard at Saydnaya prison, a facility long associated with allegations of torture and mistreatment of detainees.

The arrests form part of a broader campaign launched by the Syrian authorities to identify, detain and prosecute former regime figures accused of human rights violations, unlawful detentions and other offenses during more than a decade of conflict.

The latest operation follows the arrest earlier this week of Osama Mahmoud Hamouda, a former non-commissioned officer detained in the coastal province of Latakia.

Internal Security Forces said Hamouda was apprehended after an extensive surveillance operation while allegedly attempting to flee the country with assistance from criminal networks.

Authorities accuse Hamouda of supplying information to intelligence agencies, participating in arbitrary detention campaigns and engaging in financial extortion against civilians during the Assad era.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Aziz Hilal Al-Ahmad, head of Internal Security in Latakia, said investigators had been tracking Hamouda for an extended period before carrying out the arrest.

The detentions come amid broader efforts by Syria’s new authorities to establish a transitional justice framework following the collapse of the Assad government.

Attorney General Hassan Al-Turba said on Wednesday that pursuing individuals accused of major crimes was essential to restoring public trust in state institutions and advancing national reconciliation.

Speaking to SANA, Al-Turba said the Ministry of Justice was coordinating with the Interior Ministry, the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for Missing Persons to document violations and bring suspects before the courts.

He said authorities had implemented measures to prevent wanted individuals from leaving Syria, including travel restrictions, arrest warrants issued in absentia and efforts to track fugitives through international legal mechanisms.

The attorney general added that Syrian authorities were seeking cooperation through Interpol, bilateral agreements and diplomatic channels to locate and return suspects believed to be outside the country.

Al-Turba also said witness-protection programs had been introduced to encourage testimony from victims and witnesses, while international organizations were providing technical support, training and institutional assistance to strengthen judicial processes.

“Prosecuting major criminals is not merely a judicial procedure,” Al-Turba said, describing accountability as a necessary component of transitional justice and long-term stability.

The latest arrests underscore the scale of the challenge facing Syria’s post-Assad administration as it seeks to address allegations of past abuses while balancing demands for justice, accountability and national reconciliation after years of conflict.

State news agency SANA reported that former Homs governor Abdul Rahman Badreddine Al-Aama was appointed secretary-general of the Syrian presidency, replacing Maher Al-Sharaa, the president’s brother.The reshuffle also included the replacement of Information Minister Hamza Almustafa and Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr.

Khaled Fawaz Zaarour, previously head of the media faculty at Damascus University, was named information minister, while Bassel Hafez Al-Sweidan took over the agriculture portfolio.No official explanation was provided for the changes.

The appointments mark one of the most notable adjustments to Syria’s transitional government since it was formed in March 2025 following the 2024 ouster of longtime ruler Bashar Assad. The interim administration has largely been composed of figures considered close to Sharaa and his political network.

Alongside cabinet-level changes, Sharaa appointed new provincial governors for several regions, including Homs, Quneitra, Latakia and Deir Ezzor, according to SANA.

The personnel changes come as Syria’s transitional authorities continue efforts to restructure state institutions after years of civil conflict, economic collapse and political fragmentation that intensified following Assad’s removal from power.

In a strongly worded statement, the Church urged the public, “Do not get carried away with rumors”, emphasizing that concerns over safety and governance in the region have been exaggerated.

The Church’s response comes amid rising speculation about the security of religious minorities in the coastal city, where reports had suggested a growing atmosphere of uncertainty. However, officials from the Church assured that their engagement with the GSS reaffirmed the stability of the community.

The statement was shared by Charles Lister of the Washington-based Middle East Institute’s Syria Program and founder of SyriaWeekly.com, further amplifying its reach among analysts and observers tracking developments in Syria.

While tensions in parts of Syria continue, Latakia has largely remained under firm government control, and the Church’s remarks seek to counter concerns that recent events might pose a direct threat to the Christian community in the city.

Local sources indicate that religious institutions remain operational and that no extraordinary security measures have been imposed, reinforcing the Church’s message of calm.

While misinformation continues to spread in conflict zones, the Church’s statement serves as a call for discernment, urging both residents and the international community to rely on verified sources rather than unconfirmed speculation.