A Syrian court has sentenced ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the country's civil war.

This marks the first legal conviction against Assad, who fled to Moscow, Russia, alongside his family in December 2024 following the collapse of his regime, which ended five decades of family rule. Alongside Assad, the court sentenced six other former military and security officials to death, including his younger brother Maher, who commanded the army's elite Fourth Division, and former defense minister Fahd al-Freij.

Atef Najib, Assad's cousin and former head of political security in the Deraa province, was also convicted and sentenced to death. Najib appeared physically in court, wearing a prison uniform, after being found guilty of multiple charges, including murder, the intentional killing of children under the age of 15, and torture leading to death.

The legal proceedings represent a key step for Syria's interim government, which began trying officials from the former administration earlier this year. Deraa, widely recognized as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising sparked by anti-government protests and subsequent security crackdowns, saw public celebrations following the verdict, with citizens gathering outside the courthouse to demand full accountability.

Despite the rulings, the enforcement of these sentences remains uncertain, as high-ranking figures such as Bashar and Maher al-Assad remain in Russia, and questions persist regarding potential extradition efforts by the new authorities.