Syrian authorities have arrested a former commander affiliated with the ousted Bashar al Assad regime on charges including war crimes and involvement in military attacks against opposition-held areas, the Interior Ministry said.
In a statement on Saturday, the ministry said Internal Security Forces arrested Shuaib Mahmoud Ibrahim following intelligence-led surveillance and an ambush operation in the Masyaf area of Hama province.
The ministry said weapons hidden in the area were also discovered and seized during the operation.
According to preliminary investigations, Ibrahim participated in military attacks in the countryside of Homs and Hama in 2017 and was involved in the mutilation of bodies.
The ministry said the suspect also admitted to possessing a cache of weapons and concealing it with another individual in the Masyaf area.
Authorities are continuing efforts to locate the second suspect and seize the remaining weapons, the statement added.
