Relative of Bashar Assad detained in Lebanon airport

The Lebanese authorities detained the wife of Duraid Assad, cousin of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, at the Beirut International Airport, the Al Nahar newspaper reported, citing a judicial source, Report informs via TASS.

According to the report, the wife and her daughter had been placed under arrest but tried to escape using false passports.

Duraid is a son of Rifaat Assad, who was a brother of Syria’s late President Hafez Assad. Rifaat went to live outside Syria in 1984, following a failed coup. In 2021 Bashar Assad allowed 87-year-old Rifaat to return to the country, provided he would not engage in politics.

Arab news media earlier reported that Rifaat and his family moved to Lebanon after the transitional government took over in Damascus.

Rifaat used to face lawsuits in Spain, France and Switzerland on charges of corruption and war crimes. However, the cases were dropped due to the defendant's poor health condition.