Lebanon Detains Former Assad-Era General, Considers Extradition to Syria
Lebanese authorities have detained former Syrian Major-General Adel Issa in Beirut and are considering whether to hand him over to Syria, according to judicial and security officials.
Issa, who served under ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was taken into custody on Friday after visiting the Syrian embassy in Beirut for paperwork. Embassy staff reportedly discovered that he was wanted in Syria and notified Lebanese prosecutors.
Lebanese investigators subsequently detained Issa and took him to a facility at the Beirut Palace of Justice. During questioning, he reportedly acknowledged entering Lebanon illegally after Assad’s government collapsed in December 2024, while denying any wrongdoing.
Syrian opposition forces seized Damascus in December 2024, prompting many former Assad officials to flee to neighbouring Lebanon.
Lebanon’s public prosecutor has asked Damascus to provide the formal extradition file before a decision is made. Authorities are expected to wait for the Syrian request and related charges before determining whether Issa will be transferred.
If handed over, Issa would reportedly become the first former Assad-era official transferred from Lebanon to Syria since the collapse of Assad’s government.
