Relatives demand release of prisoners detained over Syria in Beirut protest

In Lebanon, on December 27, 2024, at the Beirut airport, Rasha Khazem, the wife of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad’s cousin Duraid Assad, and their daughter Shams were apprehended for attempting to leave the country using forged passports. The arrests occurred just a day after Rifaat Assad, the uncle of Bashar Assad, whom Swiss authorities indicted earlier this year for war crimes and crimes against humanity, successfully left for Egypt. Their illegal smuggling into Lebanon underscored the deteriorating security situation in the region, where numerous Syrian officials and persons related to the Assad regime have reportedly undertaken similar attempts to cross borders amidst increasing unrest following the Syrian conflict's recent developments. The backdrop of their arrest includes widespread protests in Syria and across the region. Following the fall of Bashar Assad's presidency and the uprising against his regime, many former officials associated with Assad's government have sought to escape potential legal and social repercussions. The anti-Assad sentiment has spurred protests wherein demonstrators call for protection of ethnic and religious minorities, reflecting the current instability in the region. The unsanctioned attempts to flee further indicate a fragmented political landscape where former supporters and officials are increasingly vulnerable. The Lebanese authorities are currently grappling with the influx of Syrians post-Assad’s regime collapse, citing that more than 20 members of the former Syrian Army's 4th Division and military intelligence officers have been detained for various offenses, including arms trafficking and other criminal activities. Reports indicate that relatives of these detainees often protest their arrests and claim their detainment is politically motivated, suggesting external pressures from influential groups such as Hezbollah and aligned Iranian interests. Such dynamics create a complex web of local and regional politics in Lebanon, where sectarian divides play a pivotal role in how justice and security are approached. The potential repercussions of this incident may stretch beyond just the individuals arrested, impacting Lebanon's delicate political balance, which is already strained due to the Syrian refugee crisis and ongoing tensions among different factions. The arrests of Assad family members could amplify fears among other individuals connected to the past regime, creating an atmosphere of distrust and risk, which may further entrench divisions between Assad loyalists and opposition factions within Lebanon and Syria. As the global community watches closely, the unfolding situation hints at possible future confrontations as this narrative continues to develop.