Rescue workers from the White Helmets say they have ended their search operation for possible detainees in secret cells or basements at Syria’s notorious Saydnaya military prison without finding anyone. Specialised teams assisted by K9 dog units and individuals familiar with the layout combed the prison and its grounds on Monday, as crowds gathered in the hope of finding their missing relatives. “The search did not uncover any unopened or hidden areas within the facility,” a White Helmets statement said. The news came as rebel fighters said they had found almost 40 bodies showing signs of torture in the mortuary of a hospital in the capital, Damascus. Meanwhile, the leader of the Islamist militant group whose offensive led to the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said former senior officials who oversaw the torture of political prisoners during the country’s 13-year civil war would be held accountable. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said the names of the officials would be published and repatriation sought for those who had fled to other countries.
Source link
