Beirut: Lebanon has handed over a former senior officer in Syria's ousted regime army to Damascus on charges including murder and torture resulting in death, the Syrian Interior Ministry said. Major General Adel Issa was detained in Lebanon under a warrant issued by the country's public prosecutor following an extradition request from Syrian authorities, the ministry said in a statement.
According to TRTworld.com, Issa was also the subject of an arrest warrant in absentia issued by a Syrian investigative judge. The ministry detailed that he faces charges of premeditated murder, intentionally killing more than two people, facilitating a felony, and torture resulting in death. Additionally, he is accused of acts aimed at inciting civil war and sectarian strife.
Issa previously commanded the Syrian army's 17th Division and served as ground forces commander in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor until 2016 under the ousted regime. The ministry stated that his case is now before a referral judge in Damascus, who will decide whether to refer it to the Damascus Criminal Court for trial.
The handover occurs as Syrian authorities pursue legal action against former regime figures accused of abuses committed against Syrians as part of the country's transitional justice process.