Informed sources revealed that Lieutenant Colonel Bassam Hamidan al-Arsan, a prominent leader in the pro-regime militias, arrived in the Netherlands several months ago from Erbil and is currently residing in Rotterdam.
Al-Arsan hails from the town of al-Muhsin in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. He is the son of Major General Hamidan al-Arsan, head of the Tribal Affairs Bureau within the National Security Bureau, which is under the control of Ali Mamlouk.
Military Record and Early Violations
Bassam al-Arsan's name first came to prominence in early 2012 when he was serving as a first lieutenant in the Damascus countryside. Testimonies confirm that he was among the first officers to issue direct orders to shell residential areas in the cities of Douma and Harasta using tanks to suppress peaceful demonstrations at the time.
Militia Command and Control of Roads
Al-Arsan later assumed sensitive leadership positions, most notably:
- Commander of the National Defense Forces militia in al-Hasakah: where he oversaw military operations and recruitment for the pro-regime groups.
- The official in charge of the "Athriya" checkpoints: He oversaw the vital road leading to Raqqa, an area notorious for widespread violations against civilians and travelers.
Leaving and Reaching Europe
After years of fieldwork and close ties to the Assad regime's security apparatus through his father's influence in the National Security Bureau, Al-Arsan left for Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. From there, he successfully reached the Netherlands, raising legal questions about how he bypassed European security checks.
Zaman Al Wasl
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