Syrian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, a judge announced on Saturday.

In a statement to the state-run news agency SANA (affiliated with Syria’s Ministry of Information), the investigating judge said that the charges concern 2011 repression in Daraa, and include “premeditated murder, torture leading to death, and deprivation of liberty.” The report states that the judicial decision “opens the door” to Interpol cooperation in circulating the warrant and international pursuit of the case.

Following peaceful protests in March 2011, Syria spiralled into a civil war. Under the Assad regime, a pattern of extensive atrocities emerged. Widespread serious violence, such as torture and summary executions, was detailed in the Caesar Report. Bashar al-Assad was ousted following the seizure of control by Syrian rebels in December 2024.

The importance of the international community’s cooperation has been highlighted by David M. Crane, founding Chief Prosecutor of the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, who declared that “it is imperative to prioritize accountability… we must advocate for a regional justice mechanism empowered to bring Syrian leaders, and those who supported them, to trial for their actions.” In March 2025, the former UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, urged the international community to support Syria to enable the transition away from “one of the most harrowing conflicts.”

One way to facilitate international cooperation is through INTERPOL. Rather than issuing an arrest warrant, Interpol issues a Red Notice, which is an alert that requests law enforcement globally to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. This is founded on the requesting country’s arrest warrant or court order. Notably, INTERPOL cannot force countries to arrest persons who are specified in the Red Notice.