France Issues Arrest Warrant for Bashar Assad on War Crimes Charges

The French judiciary has issued an arrest warrant for ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad, accusing him of complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity, Anadolu Agency reported.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced the warrant on social media, emphasizing the necessity of justice for victims of the Assad regime.

The warrant was requested by France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) as part of an investigation into the 2017 death of a French citizen of Syrian origin. Judicial sources confirmed that the warrant was issued on January 20, citing charges including murder and deliberate attacks against civilians.

This legal action builds on previous charges against Assad, including a November 2023 warrant related to his involvement in chemical attacks on civilians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region in 2013.