Anas Khattab, Syria’s new intelligence chief, revealed plans to dismantle the feared institutions of the Assad regime on Saturday. This announcement followed his appointment two days after Assad’s regime was overthrown in early December.
Reforming the Security System
Khattab explained, “The security establishment will be reformed after dissolving all services and restructuring them in a way that honors our people.” He stressed the suffering of Syrians under the old regime, noting how its security forces spread corruption and inflicted torture.
Legacy of the Assad Regime
After Assad’s fall, many prisons were emptied as regime officials and agents fled the country. Now, these prisons are guarded by fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group that helped take control of Damascus. As a result, many Syrians have rushed to former detention centers, hoping to find traces of missing loved ones.
Over 100,000 Deaths in Prisons
Khattab also said, “The security services of the old regime were many and varied, with different names and affiliations, but all had in common that they had been imposed on the oppressed people for more than five decades.” According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during the conflict.
Pursuing Justice for War Crimes
Additionally, earlier this week, a general who oversaw military justice under the Assad regime was arrested. He is accused of sentencing thousands of prisoners to death, including many from Saydnaya prison. Meanwhile, several former Syrian intelligence officers have been convicted and jailed in Europe since 2022 for torture and other crimes.
Overall, Khattab’s plan signals a shift in Syria’s efforts to rebuild and seek justice for its people.