Syria arrests five former al-Assad-era officers over strikes on civilians

Syrian security forces say they have arrested five former air force officers accused of involvement in air strikes on civilians during the rule of deposed President Bashar al-Assad. The former officers, including an air force general, were arrested in a series of operations in coordination with the Counter Terrorism Directorate, the head of Syria’s Internal Security Forces in the coastal Tartous province said in a statement on Friday. The detained officers were involved “in using the air force, airbases and field command centres to conduct intensive combat airstrikes targeting populated areas”, according to the statement.