France Issues New Arrest Warrant for Bashar al-Assad Over 2013 Chemical Attacks

New Warrant Issued Against Former Syrian Leader

French judicial authorities have issued a new international arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad, the former President of Syria, in connection with the 2013 chemical weapon attacks in the Damascus suburbs. The warrant, signed by investigating judges in Paris on July 29, 2025, charges al-Assad with complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to hold the former Syrian leader accountable for atrocities committed during the Syrian civil war.

The issuance of this new warrant comes after France's highest court, the Court of Cassation, annulled a previous warrant against al-Assad in July 2025. That earlier warrant, issued in November 2023, was overturned on the grounds of absolute immunity granted to sitting heads of state. However, with al-Assad having been toppled in December 2024 and now living in exile in Russia, the court ruled that new warrants could be issued.

The Ghouta Chemical Attacks of 2013

The new arrest warrant specifically targets al-Assad's alleged role in the devastating chemical attacks that occurred on August 21, 2013. On that day, rockets containing the highly lethal nerve agent sarin struck opposition-controlled areas in Eastern and Western Ghouta, including Douma, Zamalka, and Ein Tarma, near Damascus.

These attacks resulted in a catastrophic loss of life, with estimates ranging from hundreds to over 1,000 fatalities, including many children. International investigations and the broader international community have widely attributed responsibility for these attacks to the Syrian government and the al-Assad regime, despite their denials.

Legal Proceedings and Universal Jurisdiction

The French investigation into the 2013 chemical attacks began in April 2021, initiated by the Specialized Unit for Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes of the Paris Judicial Court. This investigation was prompted by civil party complaints filed by organizations such as the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), and Syrian Archive, representing victims and survivors.

France operates under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows its courts to prosecute individuals for certain grave international crimes, regardless of where the crimes were committed or the nationality of the perpetrator or victims. The charges against al-Assad include:

• Complicity in crimes against humanity
• Complicity in war crimes

The warrants also name other high-ranking Syrian officials, including al-Assad's brother, Maher al-Assad, commander of the 4th Armored Division; Ghassan Abbas, director of Branch 450 of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC); and Bassam al-Hassan, presidential adviser for strategic affairs.

Implications for International Justice

The new arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad is considered a significant development in the pursuit of international justice and accountability for severe human rights violations. While the likelihood of al-Assad facing trial in France remains low given his exile in Russia, the warrant serves as a powerful symbolic message that such crimes will not go unaddressed.

This is not the only legal action France has taken against the former Syrian leader. Other French warrants include one issued in January 2025 for a 2017 bombing in Daraa and a series of seven international arrest warrants issued in September 2025 for senior officials, including al-Assad, related to the 2012 bombardment of a media center in Homs that resulted in the deaths of journalists Marie Colvin and Rémi Ochlik. These collective actions underscore a sustained international effort to ensure accountability for crimes committed during the Syrian conflict.