A Syrian court has sentenced Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of ousted former president Bashar al-Assad, to death for war crimes and crimes against humanity, making him the first member of the Assad family to be tried and convicted in person. He was found guilty of forming two armed groups loyal to the former regime that carried out deadly attacks near Damascus, and of inciting civil war. The verdict is part of a sweeping wave of trials launched in April 2026 by Syria's new authorities — who swept to power in December 2024 — that has already produced at least seven death sentences, including one issued against Bashar al-Assad himself in absentia on 11 August; however, human rights groups warn that the proceedings may lack legal legitimacy, as charges such as crimes against humanity and war crimes are not yet codified under Syrian law, and defence rights have reportedly been curtailed.