Syrian authorities have announced the arrest of Major General Mezer Sawan, a former air force commander widely known by the nickname “Enemy of the Ghoutas”, for his alleged role in ordering airstrikes on civilian areas during the country’s civil war.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, Sawan was apprehended by internal security forces in Harasta, a suburb of Damascus, as part of an ongoing campaign to prosecute individuals accused of war crimes under the previous regime. He has been transferred to the Counterterrorism Directorate for further investigation.

Sawan, who once led the 20th Air Division at Al-Dumayr Military Airport, is accused of issuing direct orders for air raids on Eastern and Western Ghouta, opposition strongholds that endured years of siege and bombardment. He is also listed on European Union and UK sanctions lists for his alleged involvement in violent repression and attacks on civilian populations2.

The arrest is part of a broader effort by Syria’s new leadership to hold former regime figures accountable, though human rights groups have expressed skepticism about the transparency and scope of these proceedings.