A Syrian court commenced the first hearing for former President Bashar al-Assad and high-ranking former officials. Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad are being tried in absentia, while one security official appeared in court.

A Syrian court held its first hearing on Sunday in the trial of ousted president Bashar al-Assad and senior officials from his former government, state media said. Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, who fled Syria, are being tried in absentia, while former security official Atif Najib appeared in court in handcuffs.