Relatives of Bashar Assad Detained in Lebanon Attempting To Flee

Lebanese officials arrested Rasha Khazem and her daughter at Beirut airport as they attempted to flee to Egypt using forged passports. This incident follows the departure of her spouse, Duraid Assad, and highlights ongoing investigations into the Assad family’s complicity in past war crimes amidst a broader context of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

On Friday, Lebanese authorities apprehended the wife and daughter of Duraid Assad, a cousin of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad, at Beirut International Airport. They are reported to have attempted to depart for Egypt using allegedly forged passports. Rasha Khazem and her daughter Shams had entered Lebanon illegally, while Duraid’s father, Rifaat Assad, had left the country the previous day without issues. Rifaat Assad, once the Syrian Vice President, has been implicated in severe human rights violations and under investigation for war crimes, notably during the Hama massacre decades ago. This incident occurs in a climate where many Syrians are allegedly fleeing to Lebanon amid political turmoil following Assad’s fall.

The recent arrests at Beirut airport highlight the ongoing ramifications of the Syrian civil war and its impact on Lebanon. After the fall of Assad in Syria, a substantial number of Syrians reportedly sought refuge in Lebanon, heightening the tensions between the two nations. Rifaat Assad’s past involvement in the Syrian regime’s brutal tactics has resurfaced, drawing international scrutiny as Swiss authorities move forward with indictments against him for war crimes.

The arrest of Rasha Khazem and her daughter underscores the complexities surrounding the Syrian conflict and its spilled-over impact on Lebanon. The ongoing investigations into Rifaat Assad and other former regime officials suggest a potential reckoning for those associated with the Syrian government’s violent past. As Lebanon navigates this turbulent political landscape, cooperation with international law enforcement agencies like Interpol may lead to significant developments regarding accountability for alleged human rights abuses.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com