DAMASCUS — Syrian authorities have arrested a former military commander linked to the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime on charges including war crimes and involvement in operations against opposition-held areas, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.In a statement, the ministry said Internal Security Forces detained Shuaib Mahmoud Ibrahim following an intelligence-led surveillance operation and ambush in the Masyaf area of Hama province.Authorities also discovered and seized a cache of weapons hidden in the area during the operation.According to preliminary investigations, Ibrahim participated in military operations in the countryside of Homs and Hama in 2017 and was involved in the mutilation of bodies.The ministry said the suspect admitted possessing weapons and concealing them with another individual in the Masyaf area.Efforts are ongoing to locate the second suspect and recover the remaining weapons, the statement added.Ibrahim has been referred to the Counterterrorism Directorate for further investigation before being transferred to the judiciary.The arrest is part of a wider campaign by Syria’s new authorities to pursue former regime officials accused of violations against civilians during the country’s conflict.The move follows the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government by opposition forces led by Ahmed al-Sharaa on Dec. 8, 2024, ending more than two decades of Assad’s rule.Since then, Syria’s new administration has launched a series of security operations aimed at restoring stability and holding accountable individuals accused of crimes committed during the conflict between 2011 and 2024.