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Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it
A Syrian government fact-finding committee said on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar Assad last year. The fact-finding committee's work is seen as an important test of the new leadership, made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing new unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest. The committee concluded that Syrian commanders did not give orders to commit violations and, in fact, gave orders to halt them. It came up with a list of 298 suspects involved in violations against Alawites and 265 involved in the initial attack on security forces, committee head Jumaa Al-Anzi said. The names are not being released publicly for now and have been referred to courts for further investigations, spokesperson Yasser Farhan said. He added that 31 people who committed violations against civilians had been arrested, as well as six people he referred to as "remnants" of the former regime. The Supreme Alawite Council condemned the committee's findings, describing it in a statement on Tuesday as an "impudent play." It said it rejects the findings of the committee, blaming the deadly attacks in March on the "de facto authority" represented by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his government. They called for an international and independent investigation under the direct supervision of the United Nations. A Reuters investigation last month identified 1,479 Syrian Alawites killed and dozens who were missing from 40 distinct sites of revenge killings, and found a chain of command leading from the attackers directly to men who serve alongside Syria's new leaders in Damascus. Syria's new leadership, which has roots in the insurgency led by Sunni Muslim Islamist groups against Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect, has long sought to reassure minorities they will be safe. Safety of minorities has become a major issue again this month with hundreds of people killed in clashes between government security forces, Sunni Bedouin fighters, and militants from the Druze sect in the southern province of Sweida. The authorities have set up a new fact-finding committee in response. The violence began on March 6 with attacks on Syrian security forces stationed in the region. It put hospitals and other state institutions out of operation and caused large areas to fall out of government control, Farhan said. The committee found that 238 members of the security forces were killed in these attacks, perpetrated by forces aligned with the former Assad government, Farhan said. In response, around 200,000 armed men mobilized from across Syria, pouring into the coastal region, he said. This led to violations including killings, theft, and sectarian incitement that the committee found were "widespread but not organized," Farhan said. He said the committee members had full cooperation from government forces as they carried out months of work, and it was now up to Sharaa whether to release their report in full. Diana Semaan, Syria researcher at Amnesty International, called for the full findings to be released and for perpetrators to face prosecution. "In terms of the fact-finding committee, acknowledging that atrocities against Alawite civilians happened is an important step towards justice," she told Reuters. " without the proper prosecution of perpetrators, then we have impunity. It won't be the justice and accountability that the victims deserve."
The Star
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it
BEIRUT (Reuters) -A Syrian fact-finding committee said on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year. The fact-finding committee's work is seen as an important test of the new leadership, made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing new unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest. The committee concluded that Syrian commanders did not give orders to commit violations and in fact gave orders to halt them. It came up with a list of 298 suspects involved in violations against Alawites and 265 involved in the initial attack on security forces, committee head Jumaa Al-Anzi said. The names are not being released publicly for now and have been referred to courts for further investigations, spokesperson Yasser Farhan said. He added that 31 people who committed violations against civilians had been arrested, as well as six people he referred to as "remnants" of the former regime. A Reuters investigation last month identified 1,479 Syrian Alawites killed and dozens who were missing from 40 distinct sites of revenge killings, and found a chain of command leading from the attackers directly to men who serve alongside Syria's new leaders in Damascus. Syria's new leadership, which has roots in the insurgency led by Sunni Muslim Islamist groups against Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect, has long sought to reassure minorities that they will be safe. Safety of minorities has become a major issue again this month with hundreds of people killed in clashes between government security forces, Sunni Bedouin fighters and militants from the Druze sect in the southern province of Sweida. The authorities have set up a new fact-finding committee in response. 'WIDESPREAD BUT NOT ORGANISED' The violence in March began on March 6 with attacks on Syrian security forces stationed in the region. It put hospitals and other state institutions out of operation and caused wide areas to fall out of government control, Farhan said. The committee found that 238 members of the security forces were killed in these attacks, perpetrated by forces aligned with the former Assad government, Farhan said. In response, around 200,000 armed men mobilized from across Syria, pouring into the coastal region, he said. This led to violations including killings, theft and sectarian incitement that the committee found were "widespread but not organised," Farhan said. Farhan said the committee members had full cooperation from government forces as they undertook their months of work, and it was now up to President Ahmed al-Sharaa whether to release their report in full. Diana Semaan, Syria researcher at Amnesty International, called for the full findings to be released and for perpetrators to face prosecution. "In terms of the fact-finding committee, acknowledging that atrocities against Alawite civilians happened is an important step towards justice," she told Reuters. "[But] without the proper prosecution of perpetrators, then we have impunity. It won't be the justice and accountability that the victims deserve." (Reporting by Khalil Ashawi in Damascus and Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Writing by Tala RamadanEditing by Andrew Heavens and Peter Graff)
Dubai Eye
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Israel renews strikes on Syrian cities "in support to Druze minority"
Israeli strikes targeted the vicinity of Syria's Damascus, Hama and Daraa countryside late on Friday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. The strikes on Damascus countryside killed one civilian and injured four others in Hama, SANA added. Israel's repeated strikes on Syria act as a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, which Israel views as a potential threat on its border. The Israeli army confirmed the strikes on Syria on Friday, saying it targeted "a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure." The Israeli army has previously said it targeted Syria's military infrastructure, including headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment, since mainly Sunni Muslim Islamist fighters toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December. Earlier on Friday, Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus, in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action, which has included strikes it said were in support of the country's Druze minority. Israel bombed Syria frequently when the country was governed by Assad, targeting a foothold established by his ally Iran during the civil war.
Irish Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Israeli strikes target sites in Syria, killing one and injuring four
Israeli strikes targeted sites near Damascus and in Hama and Daraa in Syria late last night, Syrian state news agency Sana has reported. The strikes near Damascus killed one civilian and injured four others in Hama, the agency added. Israel has stated its repeated strikes on Syria are to act as a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, which Israel views as a potential threat on its border. [ Israel says its military strikes in Syria aimed at group that attacked Druze community Opens in new window ] The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, saying it targeted 'a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure'. READ MORE The army has previously said it targeted Syria's military infrastructure, including headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment, since mainly Sunni Muslim Islamist fighters toppled president Bashar al-Assad last December. Aerial photo of the Syrian presidential palace at Mount Qasyoun on Friday. Israel said it carried out an air strike near the palace on Friday, warning the country's new Islamist rulers against targeting the Druze minority. Photograph: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Earlier on Friday, Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action, which has included strikes that it said were in support of the country's Druze minority. Israel bombed Syria frequently when the country was governed by Assad, targeting a foothold established by his ally Iran during the civil war. – Reuters
Yomiuri Shimbun
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Israel Carries out Strikes on Two Syrian Cities, Syrian State News Agency Says
CAIRO, May 2 (Reuters) – Israeli strikes targeted the vicinity of Syria's Damascus, Hama and Daraa countryside late on Friday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. The strikes on Damascus countryside killed one civilian and injured four others in Hama, SANA added. Israel's repeated strikes on Syria act as a warning to the new Islamist rulers in Damascus, which Israel views as a potential threat on its border. The Israeli army confirmed the strikes on Syria on Friday, saying it targeted 'a military site, anti-aircraft cannons, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure.' The Israeli army has previously said it targeted Syria's military infrastructure, including headquarters and sites containing weapons and equipment, since mainly Sunni Muslim Islamist fighters toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December. Earlier on Friday, Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus, in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action, which has included strikes it said were in support of the country's Druze minority. Israel bombed Syria frequently when the country was governed by Assad, targeting a foothold established by his ally Iran during the civil war.
