The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced, on Wednesday, the arrest of a prominent pilot, who is on the list of European and British sanctions, which said that he took over an air division and issued orders to bomb areas formed for years a stronghold for the opposition factions during the conflict years.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Ministry of Interior reported, “The Internal Security Directorate in the Harasta area of Damascus countryside managed to arrest the criminal pilot, Mizar Sawan.”
Sawan, according to the statement, held several military positions, most notably his leadership of the 20th Air Division at Al -Dameer Military Airport. He was “involved in issuing orders for warplanes to bomb the revolting areas against the defunct regime in the eastern and western regime, which for years formed the most prominent strongholds of the opposition factions near Damascus.
Sawan was referred to the Anti -Terrorism Department to complete the investigations and legal procedures against him, according to the statement.
Britain was listed on “Sawan” on Syria’s sanctions list, on suspicion of being involved “in activities carried out in favor of the Bashar al -Assad regime or linked to the repression policies pursued by the regime.”
The European Union accused him of responsibility for “violently suppressing civilians, including by launching air attacks on civilian areas.”
Since its arrival in power, the new administration has announced, from time to time, the arrest of military and security officials from the previous rule.
