Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes

In a landmark decision, a Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia. The ruling, delivered today, August 11, 2026, also included a death sentence for his younger brother. Both were convicted on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes stemming from Syria's 14-year conflict, which resulted in an estimated half a million deaths.

The charges against the former president encompass killings, torture, and arbitrary detention that occurred during the government's crackdown on protests, which began in 2011. This marks the first significant legal action under Syria's new transitional authorities against figures from the ousted government.

Bashar al-Assad, who served as president from 2000, was overthrown in December 2024 following a rebel offensive that led to his flight to Moscow, where he was granted political asylum. His regime collapsed after insurgents entered Damascus.