Overview

• The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the validity of the arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad for alleged war crimes.
• This is the first time a national court has ruled that a sitting head of state does not have absolute personal immunity.
• The warrant includes Assad, his brother Maher, and two Syrian generals for their roles in the 2013 chemical attacks.
• Victims and advocates see the decision as a crucial step toward accountability for crimes against humanity.
• International warrants for sitting heads of state are rare and signal strong condemnation of Assad's actions.