Assad’s relatives detained at Beirut airport – AP

The wife and daughter of one of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s cousins have been arrested in Lebanon. They were detained at Beirut’s airport, reports Associated Press.

According to sources in Lebanon’s law enforcement, the individuals arrested include the wife of Duraid Assad, the son of former Syrian Vice President Rifaat Assad and Bashar Assad’s uncle, Rasha Hazem, and their daughter Shams. They were illegally transported to Lebanon and were planning to fly to Egypt with forged passports.

According to AP, Rifaat Assad flew out of the country the day before using his real passport.

It is noted that Bashar Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad, led the artillery unit that shelled the city of Hama, killing thousands of people. He is often referred to as the “Butcher of Hama.”

In March 2024, Switzerland’s prosecution charged Rifaat Assad with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed over four decades ago.

Fall of the Assad regime

A few weeks ago, rebels overthrew dictator Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria. Bashar Assad himself fled to Russia. Moscow claimed the dictator voluntarily handed over power.

Amid the events in Syria, Russia is withdrawing its ships from naval bases and relocating leftover weapons from these bases, including to Lebanon.

Ukraine does not rule out the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with the new Syrian government. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine sent 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria.