Syria’s Counterterrorism Directorate Arrests Former Assad-Regime Pilot

ARK News.. Syria’s Counterterrorism Directorate arrested former regime pilot Lieutenant Colonel Khaldoun Hussein Mubarak at his home in the countryside of Jableh, Latakia province.

A source in the Counterterrorism Directorate told al-Ikhbariya on Friday, September 25, that the directorate had arrested Mubarak, a former pilot in the Assad regime.

The arrest follows the announcement earlier this month that Internal Security Forces, in cooperation with the Counterterrorism Directorate, had arrested several former regime pilots and senior Air Force officers.

In Tartous province, Internal Security Forces and the Counterterrorism Directorate arrested five senior Air Force officers: Major General Mohammad Fajr Ali, Brigadier General and pilot Abdullah Ali Malla, Colonel and pilot Nidal Hussein Saleh, Colonel Mohammad Ali Salim, and Lieutenant Colonel and pilot Talib Abdul Karim Hassan.

Investigations and military records reportedly showed that the detainees, each according to his position and responsibilities, were involved in planning, directing and carrying out airstrikes and in using aircraft, air bases and field command centres to conduct intensive combat raids targeting populated areas. According to the report, the attacks resulted in the destruction of residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure, the forced displacement of residents, and extensive loss of life as a result of strikes on populated areas.

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