The French judiciary issued an international arrest warrant on Tuesday, marking the first of its kind, targeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher.

They are accused of complicity in crimes against humanity related to chemical attacks in Syria in 2013, as announced by the initiators of the lawsuit on Wednesday.

The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression reported that French criminal investigative judges issued arrest warrants against Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and two of their assistants.

They are charged with using prohibited chemical weapons against civilians in the city of Douma and the eastern Ghouta region in 2013.