Lebanese authorities have confirmed the arrest of a high-profile figure tied to Saddam Hussein’s family, amid broader implications for international security and justice. The individual in question is Abdullah Yasser Sabawi al-Hasan, reportedly a grandson of the Iraqi dictator, with connections highlighted to Ibrahim al-Hasan, Saddam’s half-brother. The confirmation came from the Lebanese National Security Agency on a Friday after weeks of unverified speculation surrounding his detention.
According to authorities, Sabawi al-Hasan was detained on June 13 in Beirut, following an Interpol warrant that allegedly linked him to the Islamic State group and, more specifically, to the Camp Speicher massacre. The case highlights ongoing international efforts to address suspected links between former regime figures and extremist networks, and to pursue justice across borders.
Abbas Ibrahim, the head of the Lebanese General Security, stressed that Lebanon operates in full accord with international law, judicial processes, and the mechanisms for the transfer and return of fugitives between nations that maintain close bilateral ties, including Iraq. His remarks were reported by the Iraqi channel IMN TV and subsequently cited by the Lebanese news portal Naharnet.
Sabawi al-Hasan had sought refuge in Lebanon with his family in 2018 after residing in Yemen following the fall of Hussein’s regime. The ongoing case raises questions about extradition to Iraq and the proper conduct of investigations into alleged associations with ISIS, as outlined in Naharnet’s reporting. The situation remains under close scrutiny as authorities evaluate the next steps in the judicial process.
The Camp Speicher massacre, which is at the center of these allegations, occurred on June 12, 2014. During that brutal episode, ISIS militants launched an assault on a camp in the Iraqi province of Tikrit, with estimates of those killed ranging from about 1,095 to 1,700 cadets and Shiite militiamen. The assault marked one of the most notorious episodes attributed to ISIS within Iraq during that period.
It is reported that Sabawi al-Hasan was present in the vicinity during the mass killings, when a large number of unarmed cadets and recruits were targeted. The attackers reportedly singled out Shiites and non-Muslims for execution, a horrifying sequence that left a deep imprint on the region’s memory and continues to influence ongoing legal and security discussions about accountability for those connected to the events.