Syrian Interior Ministry: Major General Wajih Ali al-Abdullah, a figure of the former Assad regime, arrested in connection with violations against civilians

The Syrian Interior Ministry said in a statement that internal security units, in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Directorate, carried out a swift security operation that resulted in the arrest of Major General Wajih Ali al-Abdullah, who served as director of the Military Affairs Office for former president Bashar al-Assad for 13 years.

The statement explained that the detainee is considered one of the prominent figures within the former regime’s inner circle and was responsible for coordinating a number of military files during that period, which extended from 2005 to 2018.

It noted that this phase is regarded as one of the most sensitive periods in the country’s history, according to the statement, during which he carried out his duties within the Military Affairs Office at the presidential palace.

The Interior Ministry stressed that the arrest comes as part of a series of security measures aimed at pursuing senior officers linked to files involving grave violations, in preparation for referring them to the competent judiciary and completing the legal procedures against them.