Two Syrian Officials Charged with War Crimes

Following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, U.S. prosecutors have indicted two former high-ranking officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, for their roles in overseeing a notorious torture center at the Mezzeh Military Airport. The indictment alleges that they tortured detainees, including American citizens, during the Syrian civil war, which has resulted in approximately half a million deaths since 2011. The charges, unveiled after a rebel offensive that led to Assad's fall, detail horrific abuses, including beatings and executions, particularly focusing on the case of 26-year-old American aid worker Layla Shweikani. Both men are currently at large, with arrest warrants issued against them. Additionally, a bounty has been placed on senior Assad officials as efforts intensify to find them and secure Assad's hidden chemical weapons. The situation reflects a critical moment in the ongoing pursuit of justice for victims of the Assad regime's brutal tactics.