Syria arrests former elite division commander over war crime allegations photo

Syrian officials have announced the arrest of Maj. Gen. Mowaffaq Nazeer Haidar, formerly the commander of the Syrian army’s Third Armored Division, in connection with allegations of war crimes and abuses at a notorious checkpoint near Damascus.

Haidar, who was in charge of the Qutayfah checkpoint along the Damascus-Homs highway north of the capital, is accused of having a direct role in the disappearance of thousands of Syrians during the civil war, Caliber.Az reports via Arab media.

بعد رصدٍ دقيق، وبعملية أمنية محكمة التنفيذ، ألقت قيادة الأمن الداخلي في محافظة اللاذقية القبض على اللواء المجرم موفق نظير حيدر، قائد الفرقة الثالثة دبابات في جيش النظام البائد، والمسؤول عن حاجز القطيفة المعروف لجميع السوريين بـ"حاجز الموت" pic.twitter.com/5EHZzinojN

— وزارة الداخلية السورية (@syrianmoi) June 24, 2025

The checkpoint, situated near the headquarters of the Third Division - a powerful military unit in Syria - was infamous among locals as a site of torture and arbitrary detentions. In a statement, the Internal Security Directorate in Latakia described Haidar as a “criminal responsible for the so-called ‘death checkpoint’ at Qutayfah,” and as a key figure in pro-government raids across the country. 

He has been transferred to the counter-terrorism unit for interrogation on charges including war crimes and serious violations against civilians. The Qutayfah checkpoint, located at the northern entrance to Damascus, was one of the most feared military posts during Syria’s civil war, known for the regime’s harsh crackdown on dissidents and army deserters.

Previously operated by the Third Armored Division, it was grimly nicknamed the “Death Checkpoint,” the “Checkpoint of Fear,” the “Checkpoint of Horror,” and the “Checkpoint of Arrests and Executions” by Syrians. It stood as a symbol of terror, especially for residents of the Qalamoun region and for Syrians nationwide.

Earlier reports indicated that thousands of Syrians disappeared at the Qutayfah checkpoint during the conflict’s peak, many detained without formal charges or due process, often suspected only of opposing the regime or evading military conscription.

By Naila Huseynova