Kathmandu— Lebanese authorities arrested a former Syrian army general in Beirut on Friday after he visited the Syrian embassy for paperwork, leading to his detention at the Beirut Palace of Justice. Major-General Adel Issa, who served under the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, is currently being held while officials determine whether to extradite him to Syria to face accusations related to his military service.

Arrest Following Embassy Visit

The arrest occurred after embassy staff recognized Issa as a wanted individual and alerted Lebanon’s prosecutor’s office. Following the alert, investigators from the Central Criminal Investigation Department took the 67-year-old into custody.

During questioning, Issa admitted to entering Lebanon illegally following the fall of the al-Assad regime, though he reportedly denied all wrongdoing. He is currently being held at a facility at the Beirut Palace of Justice.

Extradition and Legal Proceedings

Issa held significant military positions during the Syrian conflict. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, he once commanded Syria’s 17th Division before being reassigned in 2015 to lead ground forces in Deir Az Zour province near the Iraqi border, a role he maintained until his retirement in late 2016.

Extradition and Legal Proceedings

Lebanese officials are weighing whether to hand Issa over to Syrian authorities, a move that would mark the first such transfer since the collapse of the al-Assad government in December 2024. Since the arrest occurred on a weekend in Syria, Lebanese authorities are expected to wait until Monday for formal charges from Damascus before making a final decision.

Lebanon’s public prosecutor has requested that his Syrian counterpart provide the suspect’s extradition file before a decision is reached, a judicial official told AFP.

Broader Reckoning in Syria

The case arrives as Syria undergoes a broader reckoning with the al-Assad era. Dozens of former security officials accused of abuses have already been arrested and tried in the wake of the regime's collapse.

One such high-profile case involves al-Assad’s cousin, Atef Najib, whose trial began in April regarding his alleged role in triggering the 2011 uprising. The civil war that ended with the regime's fall resulted in approximately half a million deaths and over a million injuries.

Lebanese authorities are expected to wait until Monday for formal charges from Damascus before deciding how to proceed.

(With inputs from (manual retry))

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.