Syrian authorities have announced the arrest of Ali Kayali, a former paramilitary leader linked to a massacre of nearly 250 civilians during Syria’s civil war, in a coordinated operation in Lebanon. Kayali, also known as Mihrac Ural, is the main suspect in the 2013 Banias massacre, in which government forces and allied militias killed scores of civilians in the coastal province of Tartus.

According to Syrian state media, Kayali was apprehended as he attempted to cross the border from Lebanon into Syria. A Syrian security source confirmed that the arrest was carried out in collaboration with Lebanese authorities. The detention marks a significant development as Syria and Lebanon seek to redefine their relationship following the fall of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The change in power in Syria has also contributed to a weakening of Hezbollah, a key ally of al-Assad.

Kayali commanded a paramilitary group that fought alongside the Syrian government during the conflict. The 2013 Banias and Bayda killings, described by Human Rights Watch at the time as among the deadliest mass executions in the war, resulted in the deaths of at least 248 civilians, predominantly from Sunni Muslim communities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that total casualties in the two towns may have reached approximately 400.

Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Alawiis stated that the arrest sends a clear message that impunity for war crimes will not be tolerated and that victims’ rights remain a priority, regardless of the passage of time.

Kayali’s background includes a conviction in Turkiye before fleeing to Syria in 1982, where he established a paramilitary force allied with the Assad government. Turkiye’s Anadolu news agency has reported that Kayali is married to a relative of Assad and was suspected of orchestrating a double car bombing in Reyhanli, southeast Turkiye, in which 53 people were killed.

This arrest follows a series of actions by Lebanese authorities targeting individuals linked to the former Syrian regime. In recent months, Lebanon has arrested relatives of al-Assad, a former Syrian intelligence officer, and extradited a former general accused of murder and torture back to Syria. These moves underscore ongoing efforts to address past abuses amid shifting political dynamics in both countries.

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 as pro-democracy protests met with violent repression, evolved into a complex conflict involving multiple armed groups and foreign actors. The war concluded with the ousting of al-Assad’s administration in a rapid offensive led by a rebel coalition that assumed control of the country.