Judicial authorities in France seek fresh arrest warrant for Assad
In a significant development, French prosecutors have requested a new international arrest warrant against former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, related to the deadly 2013 chemical attack near Damascus.
The new warrant request was made on July 25-28, 2025, following the Court of Cassation's ruling that there are no exceptions to presidential immunity for war crimes or crimes against humanity while a person is president. However, with Assad's ousting in December 2024, immunity no longer applies, allowing new warrants to be issued.
The alleged 2013 chemical attack, which involved sarin gas, caused over 1,000 deaths in areas near Damascus such as Adra and Douma. The French National Anti-Terror Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has formally requested the issuing and international circulation of a new arrest warrant for complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes linked to the attack.
It is important to note that Assad is also under a second arrest warrant, issued in January 2025, related to alleged war crimes in a 2017 bombing of a Syrian city. The French investigation draws on complaints and evidence from Syrian civil society organizations and human rights groups documenting the attacks and supporting victims.
The presiding judge, Christophe Soulard, stated that the previous arrest warrant against Assad, issued in 2023, was not "lawful" while Assad was still head of state. However, France's highest court overturned the arrest warrant citing his then-immunity as head of state.
Several victim organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Syrian leadership and presented evidence such as witness statements, photos, and videos. Lawyers Clémence Witt and Jeanne Sulzer welcomed the Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office's involvement in the case on Monday.
The new arrest warrant requested by the Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office in Paris is for the same charges of complicity in war crimes. Assad is accused of complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The International Criminal Court is not competent for crimes committed in Syria, as Syria is not a contracting state. However, a trial against Bashar al-Assad can take place in France even in his absence.
Assad is no longer in office since December 2024, having fled to Russia following his ousting by Islamist-led fighters. The court proceedings, if successful, could mark a significant step towards holding Assad accountable for the atrocities committed during his presidency.
- The French National Anti-Terror Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) has expanded its investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, with a focus on his alleged involvement in the 2013 chemical attack near Damascus, as well as the 2017 bombing of a Syrian city.
- In light of Bashar al-Assad's ousting in December 2024 and the subsequent removal of his presidential immunity, community policy, employment policy, general news, crime-and-justice, politics, and war-and-conflicts reporting agencies should closely monitor the developments in this case, as a successful trial in France could lead to accountability for the atrocities committed during his presidency.
