The officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, ran an infamous prison in Damascus and “sought to terrify, intimidate and repress any opposition, or perceived opposition, to the regime,” according to the indictment.

The Justice Department has announced war crime charges against two top Syrian officials just days after the fall of their government, accusing them of abusing civilians detained during the country's civil war.

Assad's government, the Biden administration said it would recognize the new Syrian government under certain conditions. Meanwhile, Syrians searched for their loved ones at the notorious Saydnaya prison.

The US Department of Justice charged two former Syrian Air Force intelligence officials with committing war crimes against US citizens and others during the Syrian civil war. The indictment, filed in November,

In Damascus, rebels have taken control of the city after overthrowing dictator Bashar al-Assad. The leader of the main rebel group is vowing to identify officials involved in the torture of political prisoners and hold them accountable for war crimes.

Syria's Islamist leader vows to hold officials accountable for war crimes after ousting President Assad, sparking chaos and airstrikes.