April 29, 2025 | 06:15 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A prominent Syrian military figure, Issam Bouidani, has been detained by UAE authorities. Bouidani, also known as Abu Hammam, was apprehended at the Dubai International Airport as he attempted to leave the country.
Bouidani took over the leadership of the militant group Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) after the death of its founder Zahran Alloush in 2015. He currently holds a senior position in the newly formed Syrian Ministry of Defense. Recently, he played a role in disbanding his former faction and integrating it into the military structure under the new government.
Reported by New Arab, citing the Arabi21 news agency, a source in Syria stated that Bouidani and former Syrian opposition coalition member Yasser Dalwan were detained by Emirati authorities. There has been no official explanation regarding their apprehension.
Several Syrian news outlets have linked the detention to an Interpol arrest warrant allegedly issued by the fallen dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime. Other reports suggest that Bouidani's detainment may be related to the case of human rights activist Razan Zaitouneh.
She was reportedly missing in an area formerly controlled by Jaish al-Islam, which is suspected of involvement in Zaitouneh's abduction and possible murder.
Beforehand, Bouidani had meetings with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He had expressed willingness to disband Jaish al-Islam and integrate its fighters into the newly formed Syrian army, now under the Ministry of Defense. Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra appointed Bouidani as the commander of the army's 70th division.
Bouidani's detention comes at a sensitive political period for the new Syrian government. This is because the relations between Syria and the UAE have improved with al-Sharaa's visit to Abu Dhabi, where he met with President Mohamed bin Zayed. Several Emirati officials have also traveled to Damascus after Assad's downfall.
There has been no official statement from Syria nor the UAE regarding Bouidani's detainment.
As quoted by France 24, Jaish al-Islam's senior military spokesperson, Hamza Bayraqdar, via the Telegram messaging app, urged the immediate and unconditional release of Bouidani. He is noted as one of the symbols of the Syrian revolution.
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