Damascus, April 24 (SANA) Syria’s Interior Ministry on Friday outlined the details of a months-long security operation that led to the arrest of Amjad Youssef, identified as the main figure behind the 2013 Tadamon massacre.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba said the operation followed months of surveillance and intelligence tracking, stressing that Youssef would be brought before the judiciary to face legal proceedings.
Speaking to Syria’s al-Ikhbariya TV, al-Baba said Youssef had been among the most wanted individuals since the fall of the deposed regime, due to the global attention drawn by the brutality of the Tadamon massacre.
He said security agencies had made several attempts over recent months to locate and apprehend Youssef, including an unsuccessful operation in September last year. About a month ago, authorities were able to narrow down his location to the village of Nabaa al-Tayyib in the Hama countryside.
Three-layer security operation
Al-Baba said the arrest was carried out under a tightly coordinated plan involving three security perimeters designed to contain the target and prevent escape. The operation was conducted in coordination between the Hama Internal Security Command and departments responsible for operations, intelligence and special tasks, under a high-level command center supervised by the Interior Ministry.
Security forces were able to locate and apprehend Youssef at the target site despite resistance, he added, confirming that he will be referred to Syrian judicial authorities to complete investigations and legal procedures.
Al-Baba noted that Youssef had left Syria after his identity was exposed following the circulation of video footage documenting the massacre. He later returned to Damascus and maintained links with military intelligence until the fall of the ousted regime, before going into hiding and moving between several locations including the Qardaha countryside and the al-Ghab Plain.
Ongoing investigations and international coordination
The spokesperson said the ministry is withholding details of initial investigations due to the sensitivity of the case, adding that full disclosure will be made in coordination with the Justice Ministry, which will oversee the investigation and trial.
He added that the Interior Ministry is working with the Justice Ministry and the National Authority for Transitional Justice to develop mechanisms to hold those involved in crimes against Syrians accountable, noting that upcoming trials will include individuals directly implicated in violations committed by the deposed regime forces thoughout the years of the revolution.
Al-Baba also referred to a cross-border criminal networks established by the ousted regime to provide safe havens for wanted individuals, facilitate arms and drug trafficking, and secure documents and residency for fugitives abroad.
He said Syrian authorities, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry and relevant bodies, are working with several countries to track down fugitives and return them to Syria, stressing that Youssef “will not be the last,” and that accountability efforts will continue.
Al-Baba extended condolences to the families of the victims, saying the arrest marked a significant step toward justice.
Earlier on Friday, the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of one of Amjad Youssef , a key perpetrator involved in the Tadamon massacre, in a well-executed security operation carried out in the al-Ghab Plain in the Hama countryside.
F.J./R.K.
