Syrian state media outlets have reported the apprehension of Ali Kayali, a figure also identified by the alias Mihrac Ural. Authorities claim he is the primary suspect linked to the 2013 mass killings that occurred in the coastal city of Baniyas. According to the official reports, Kayali was taken into custody while attempting to cross a border, though specific details regarding the location of the arrest or the current status of legal proceedings against him remain limited.

The 2013 Baniyas incident involved significant violence against civilians, an event that has remained a point of contention and investigation throughout the Syrian conflict. While state media has framed the arrest as a significant development in addressing past atrocities, independent verification of the circumstances surrounding the arrest or the suspect’s current whereabouts has not been provided by international observers. The report from Al Jazeera relies primarily on the information released by Syrian state channels, noting that the suspect is a key figure in the context of the Baniyas violence. There is currently no information regarding whether the suspect will face a public trial or if international human rights organizations have been granted access to the case.