France issues arrest warrants for Syrian President Assad and Generals over war crimes

French judicial authorities have issued international arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar Assad, his brother Maher Assad, and two army generals, Ghassan Abbas and Bassam al-Hassan, on charges of alleged complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity. The warrants, stemming from a 2013 chemical attack on rebel-held Damascus suburbs, send a rare international message against a serving world leader.

While the likelihood of President Assad facing trial in France is low, the move emphasizes the gravity of the accusations at a time when some nations are reintegrating Assad into diplomatic circles.The arrest warrants, kept secret under French law during an ongoing investigation, were hailed by lawyers representing Syrian victims and NGOs as a milestone in combating impunity. The warrants focus on the 2013 chemical attacks in Douma and Eastern Ghouta, where more than 1,000 people were killed.

The investigation, conducted under universal jurisdiction in France, was initiated in 2021 following a complaint by survivors filed by the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. The move is seen as a significant step towards achieving justice for the victims, while survivors hope it will bring attention back to the chemical attacks amid waning international focus on Syria.