Khaberni - The investigations published by the Syrian Ministry of Interior, involving Wasim al-Assad, cousin of the deposed President Bashar al-Assad, revealed his formation of an armed militia at the request of the Fourth Division, which was led by Maher al-Assad, brother of Bashar, to establish military checkpoints.
Funding Armed Groups
The investigations confirmed his supervision over funding two armed groups with weapons and money in coordination with a dean named Ghiath Dalah, and arming affiliates of the auxiliary groups (armed militias) in the Maliha area in rural Damascus, where these groups remained with the "Fourth Division" for about a full year.
Among the Most Involved in Drug Trafficking
According to the investigations, Wasim was involved in intimidation and fear-mongering, causing the death of civilians in Jaramana near Damascus in 2021, practicing "strip-searching" of soldiers, transferring them within military units, and taking bribes before and after the revolution, and revealed his connections with drug networks, especially with the "Drug Emperor" Noah Zaiter.
Being the cousin of the deposed president, he is among the most involved in drug trafficking and committing crimes against civilians during the previous regime period. He boasted about his luxury cars and his desperate defense of the regime in video clips in which he appears threatening and warning opponents.
Wasim al-Assad led local armed militias auxiliary to the regime's army in Latakia, and publicly called for the formation of sectarian militias to support the regime, and participated in the regional drug smuggling network in cooperation with high-level suppliers, according to U.S. sanctions records imposed on him.
Interaction on Social Networks
Social media activists interacted with a video posted by the Syrian Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, which included referring the defendant Wasim Badi' al-Assad to the referral judge in preparation for his trial. They expressed their astonishment at his denial of the crimes and accusations directed against him.
Tweeters discussed that tracking Wasim al-Assad's history reveals crimes associated with him, including his seizure of quarries in Rahibeh after the rebels left Eastern Qalamoun in 2018 and his celebration with loyalists in the city of Ad-Dumayr, and his involvement in intimidation, fear-mongering, and causing the death of civilians in Jaramana in 2021.
Tweeters considered his denial of the facts and procedures revealed by the investigation raises questions about his honesty before the court. Others noted that his attempt to deny committing crimes linked to the notorious Fourth Division and the armed groups he formed does not deny the facts supported by the evidence, which includes funding and arming combat units and his participation in criminal activities for years before and after the revolution.
Activists confirmed that the evidence and official documents published by the Ministries of Internal and Justice affirm his direct involvement.
