Syria arrests general over alleged role in 2011 massacre that killed nearly 120

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Damascus: Syrian authorities have arrested Brig. Gen. Jaber Mehrez Ibrahim, a former commander under Bashar Assad's government, over allegations linked to the killing of nearly 120 people during a 2011 crackdown in southern Syria.

Ibrahim was detained by Internal Security Forces following a surveillance operation, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported. He is accused of ordering the killing and arrest of protesters and taking part in military operations against civilians in eastern Daraa province.

Investigators have also accused him of being directly responsible for the Saida Housing massacre on April 29, 2011, when protesters travelling towards Daraa were attacked by forces of the former regime. Around 120 people were killed or went missing, while others were wounded or detained, according to Syrian authorities.

The incident took place during the early months of the uprising against Assad's rule. Thousands of protesters from nearby villages were travelling towards Daraa with food and medical supplies when they came under fire.

Ibrahim has also been linked to arrests and torture in the province, including the case of 13-year-old Hamza Al-Khatib, whose death became a major focus of protests against the Assad government.

The allegations against Ibrahim have not been tested in court, and authorities have not disclosed when he was arrested.

His detention is part of a wider effort by Syria's current authorities to investigate former Assad-era officials over alleged war crimes and other abuses. Assad's government fell in December 2024.

Authorities have also arrested former security and military officials in connection with alleged abuses, including cases linked to the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack and the Tadamon massacre in Damascus.