Paris: France's highest court has annulled the arrest warrant for former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad concerning the 2013 chemical attacks, as reported by the French daily Ouest France.

According to Anadolu Agency, the French Court of Cassation has made the decision to overturn the arrest warrant on the grounds that a head of state's immunity is protected under all circumstances. This decision affects the warrant initially issued in November 2023 by two Parisian investigating judges. They had charged Bashar al-Assad with complicity in crimes against humanity and war crimes in connection with chemical attacks in Adra, Douma, and Eastern Ghouta in August 2013, which resulted in over 1,000 casualties.

The Paris Court of Appeal had previously upheld the warrant in June 2024. However, the recent verdict from the Court of Cassation nullifies this action, reinforcing the principle of immunity for heads of state.