Two French judges have issued a new arrest warrant for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, alleging his involvement in war crimes.

The warrant, dated Monday, accuses Assad of responsibility, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Syrian armed forces, for a 2017 bombing in Deraa that killed a civilian.

This bombing incident is tied to Salah Abou Nabout, a Franco-Syrian national and former French educator, who lost his life when Syrian army helicopters targeted his residence.

The warrant is part of an ongoing investigation initiated in 2018, which has already implicated six senior Syrian military officials.

An initial arrest warrant for Assad was issued in November 2023 concerning 2013 chemical attacks, but legal disputes over his immunity as a sitting head of state delayed proceedings.

Assad was overthrown late last year in a rapid offensive by Islamist forces and is assumed to have escaped to Russia.

His potential immunity has faced challenges post-ouster, paving the way for renewed legal actions.

The case has garnered attention from the victim’s family, who have called for justice and hope for the arrest and trial of those accountable.