France Requests Issuance of New International Arrest Warrant against Bashar al-Assad

The National Public Prosecutor's Office for Combating Terrorism in France announced today that it has officially requested the issuance of a new international arrest warrant against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on charges of involvement in deadly chemical attacks that took place in Syria in 2013.

This request comes days after a French appellate court decision to cancel a previous arrest warrant against him, affirming that the personal immunity enjoyed by heads of state ceases immediately upon leaving office, which applies to Assad after being ousted in December 2024 and fleeing the country.

The French prosecution confirmed that Assad no longer enjoys any immunity that would hinder his judicial pursuit, noting that the charges against him relate to war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed through the use of sarin gas in areas such as Adra, Douma, and Eastern Ghouta, resulting in the deaths of more than 1400 people and the injury of hundreds in August 2013.

Two French judges had issued a previous arrest warrant against Assad in November 2023, which was upheld in June 2024 by the Court of Appeal, before being annulled by the appellate court last week, while retaining the validity of the pursuit in case of immunity waiver.

In January 2025, the French judiciary also issued a separate arrest warrant against Assad, related to the shelling of civilian areas in the province of Daraa in 2017, which resulted in significant civilian casualties.

It is worth noting that the International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction over these cases, as Syria did not sign the Rome Statute establishing the court, and there is no decision from the UN Security Council to refer the Syrian file to the court.