Syrian faction announces military commander's arrest in the United Arab Emirates
Head honcho of Jaish al-Islam, Issam Buwaydani, found himself in hot water at Dubai airport in 2025. After making a move to leave the United Arab Emirates, he was cuffed and taken away.
Two confidential sources close to Buwaydani spilled the beans to AFP, claiming he was travelling on a Turkish passport at the time. Although the reasons for his arrest remain under wraps, one of the informants added that Buwaydani was on a personal trip to the Gulf nation.
The Syrian administration has reached out to the UAE government to get to the bottom of things but has yet to receive a response. Jaish al-Islam's military spokesperson, Hamza Bayraqdar, took to the messaging app Telegram to plead for Buwaydani's release, referring to him as a "revolutionary warrior."
The UAE hasn’t confirmed Buwaydani’s arrest yet.
Recently, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa paid the Emirates a visit, inciting a demonstration in Damascus’ Umayyad Square by locals demanding Buwaydani’s freedom.
Abu Khaled Nassif, one of the protestors, shouted, “I am here to cry out to the UAE and the new Syrian government, specifically the foreign minister, to release the heroic leader Issam Buwaydani!”
After taking over Jaish al-Islam following the demise of its founder, Zahran Alloush, in 2015, Buwaydani has appeared alongside Sharaa on several public occasions.
The Syrian government and activists have accused Jaish al-Islam of kidnapping four human rights activists, including Syrian lawyer and journalist Razan Zeitouneh, in 2013. However, the group has vehemently denied these allegations.
In unrelated news, a former Jaish al-Islam member, Majdi Nema, is set to stand trial in France this week for supposed involvement in war crimes committed in Syria between 2013 and 2016.
As of now, the reasons behind Buwaydani's arrest at Dubai airport remain undisclosed. Anticipate further developments for a clearer picture. Keep it tuned!
© 2025 AFP
Sources
- https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/syrian-rebels-leader-arrested-uae-reports-79836505
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/1/syrian-rebel-chief-issam-buwaydani-arrested-by-uae-reports
- Despite the arrest of Issam Buwaydani, head of Jaish al-Islam, in Dubai airport in 2025, the UAE government has yet to officially confirm the incident.
- Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to the Emirates recently triggered a demonstration in Damascus’ Umayyad Square, demanding the release of Buwaydani, a former leader of Jaish al-Islam.
- In a personal trip to the Gulf nation, Buwaydani was arrested, according to confidential sources close to him, yet the reasons for his arrest remain a mystery.
- With Majdi Nema, a former Jaish al-Islam member, standing trial in France this week on charges of war crimes committed in Syria between 2013 and 2016, the Syrian government and activists continue to scrutinize the group's human rights record.
- Back in 2013, Jaish al-Islam was accused by the Syrian government and activists of kidnapping four human rights activists, including Syrian lawyer and journalist Razan Zeitouneh, allegations that the group vehemently denies.
