Fact finding committee says Syria determined to ‘prevent unlawful revenge’

A Syrian fact finding mission has determined that the new rulers will end the wave of deadly violence security, as Russia weighed in on its involvement and that of foreign agents. Warning: Graphic

A fact-finding committee formed by Syria’s new authorities to investigate a wave of deadly violence said on Tuesday the country was determined to “prevent unlawful revenge”.

A wave of violence broke out last Thursday, mainly along the Mediterranean coast, the heartland of the Alawite minority, the worst since former president Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December.

Security forces and allied groups killed at least 1,093 civilians since Thursday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

A youth rides his bicygle next to a destroyed car following clashes between Syria's new authorities and supporters of deposed president Bashar al-Assad in the town of Jableh in the coastal province of Latakia. Picture: AFP

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday said it had documented “summary executions” that appeared “to have been carried out on a sectarian basis”.

“In a number of extremely disturbing instances, entire families - including women, children and individuals hors de combat - were killed, with predominantly Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular,” it said.

At a press conference in Damascus, fact-finding committee spokesman Yasser al-Farhan said: “The new Syria is determined to enshrine justice and the rule of law, protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens, prevent unlawful revenge and guarantee that there is no impunity.” Farhan said the committee was working on “gathering and reviewing evidence” related to the wave of violence.

He added the committee would “listen to the eyewitnesses” and establish mechanisms for people to contact the investigators, as well as gather and verify video evidence.

Syrian Red Crescent members evacuate wounded civilians who took refuge from violence in the Hmeimim Russian base in Syria's Latakia Mediterranean province. Picture: AFP

The cape near the seaport of Syria's western city of Latakia, which has seen the worst violence since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad. Picture: AFP

The findings will be submitted to the presidency and the judiciary, Farhan said. In Jableh in coastal Syria, a resident told AFP he had been terrorised by armed groups.

“More than 50 people from among my family and friends have been killed,” he said, speaking anonymously for his safety. “They gathered bodies with bulldozers and buried them in mass graves.”

The presidency announced on Sunday the formation of the committee to “investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them”.

It said it would present its findings within 30 days and that those found to be responsible for violations would be referred to the judiciary.

The violence began on Thursday, after the attempted arrest of a wanted suspect, with an attack by Assad loyalists against security spiralling into clashes.

People gather for a mass demonstration in Syria's northeastern city of Qamishli on March 11, 2025 protesting against a recent wave of sectarian violence that killed 1,000 including women and children. Picture: AFP

The ensuing killings, mainly targeting members of Assad’s Alawite minority, have been described as a “massacre” by the Observatory, local Christian leaders and US officials.

Farhan said the committee would investigate events that occurred between Thursday and Saturday.

The Britain-based Observatory, however, has reported more killings since, including on Monday.

The authorities have announced the arrest of at least seven individuals since Monday accused of having committed violations against civilians, according to SANA.

Speaking to AFP, many residents said they had witnessed the killing of civilians during violent fighting and security sweeps in the area.

The Observatory and social media users shared footage showing bodies piled outside a house, and men in military garb shooting people at close range.

AFP could not independently verify the images.

Women march with pictures of victims of a recent wave of sectarian violence targeting Syria's Alawite minority in the west of the country along the Mediterranean sea coast, during a protest condeming the attacks in Syria's northeastern city of Qamishli. Picture: AFP

‘GRAVE ABUSES ON A STAGGERING SCALE’

“There is a huge number of people who have been suffering in Syria, in the coastal areas for five days - and this needs to stop,” UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told a media briefing.

“According to many testimonies collected by our office, perpetrators raided houses, asking residents whether they were Alawite or Sunni before proceeding to either kill or spare them accordingly. Some survivors told us that many men were shot dead in front of their families.” UN rights commissioner Volker Turk has called for accountability for the deadly violence.

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday also called on Syria’s new authorities to ensure accountability for the mass killings of hundreds of civilians in recent days in the coastal heartland of the Alawite minority.

Women march with pictures of victims of a recent wave of sectarian violence targeting Syria's Alawite minority in the west of the country. Picture: AFP

“Syria’s new leaders promised to break with the horrors of the past, but grave abuses on a staggering scale are being reported against predominantly Alawite Syrians in the coastal region and elsewhere in Syria,” said HRW’s deputy regional director Adam Coogle.

“Government action to protect civilians and prosecute perpetrators of indiscriminate shootings, summary executions, and other grave crimes must be swift and unequivocal,” he said in a statement decrying the “coastal killing spree”.

The latest violence has marked the gravest threat to Syria’s new authorities, calling into question their ability to govern following repeated vows that they would respect the country’s various minorities.

The new authorities on Monday announced a surprise deal with the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast to integrate its forces into the state security apparatus - a move analysts say benefits both sides at a critical juncture.

Syrian fighters and civilians mourn over the coffin of a member of the Syrian security forces during his funeral in Hama province. Picture: Getty Images

Syrian fighters and civilians carry the coffin of a member of the Syrian security forces during his funeral in Hama province, after he and 11 other colleagues were killed in an ambush by groups loyal to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad in Latakia. Picture: Getty Images

RUSSIA WEIGHTS IN ON SYRIA VIOLENCE

Russia is in touch with other countries on the wave of violence in Syria and wants the war-torn country to be “united”, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

“We are ready and are in contact with other countries on the Syrian issue,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding Moscow “wants to see Syria united, prosperous and friendly”.

Assad fled to Russia after being ousted by rebel groups following more than 13 years of civil war.

Moscow had been his key military and political backer, helping turn the tide of the conflict in his favour when it first intervened.

Russia has sought to foster ties with the new administration, in particular to secure the fate of its military bases in the country.

IRAN DENIES TRYING TO TRIGGER CIVIL WAR

Iran, a key backer of Assad, has rejected accusations that Tehran may have been involved in the latest violence.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the claims in media reports, including from the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel, as “completely ridiculous”.

In Jableh in Latakia province, an resident spoke to AFP in tears, requesting anonymity for safety concerns and saying they were being terrorised by armed groups who had taken control of the town.

Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government patrol a street in Qardaha, the ancestral village of the Assad family, in the western province of Latakia where mass killings were reported. Picture: AFP

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace amid growing international backlash following the killing of 1,000 civilians along the country's coast in the worst violence since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad. Picture: AFP

“More than 50 people from among my family and friends have been killed. They gathered bodies with bulldozers and buried them in mass graves.”

In some areas, residents began tentatively venturing out but many were still afraid to leave home after dark and complained of a lack of basic supplies.

“Today the situation in Latakia is a little calmer, people are out and about after five days of anxiety and extreme fear,” said Farah, a 22-year-old university student who gave only her first name.

But with the situation still “very tense”, she said that “after six o’clock, you do not see anyone in the street... the neighbourhood turns into a ghost town.”

Clashes broke out on Thursday after gunmen loyal to the deposed president attacked Syria’s new security forces.

The presidency also announced that an “independent committee” had been formed to “investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them”, who would face the courts.

Members of Syria's new security forces prepare to depart from the northwestern city of Idlib. Picture: AFP

The Arab League, the United Nations, the United States, Britain and other governments have condemned the violence.

“We will hold accountable, firmly and without leniency, anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians... or who overstepped the powers of the state,” Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said in a video posted by state news agency SANA.

Earlier, the presidency announced on Telegram that an “independent committee” had been formed to “investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them”, who would face the courts.

Fighting between the new security forces and loyalists of the former government erupted last Thursday, after earlier tensions, and escalated into reported mass killings.

The fighting has killed hundreds of security forces as well as pro-Assad fighters, according to the Observatory, with the overall death toll exceeding 1300.

Sharaa, in a separate address from a Damascus mosque, appealed for national unity.

“God willing, we will be able to live together in this country,” he said.

Rebel jihadists including foreigners are reportedly rounding up and slaughtering hundreds of civilians in Syria, including women and children. Picture: AFP

SYRIA MUST BE BUILT ON ‘RULE OF LAW’

Sharaa’s Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the toppling of Assad in December, has its roots in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda. It is still listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and other governments.

The group has sought to moderate its image in recent years. Since the rebel victory, it has vowed to protect Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities.

The new government has received diplomats from the West and its neighbours. It is seeking an easing of sanctions along with investment to rebuild a country devastated by 13 years of civil war under the repressive rule of Assad.

Sharaa has said Syria must be built “on the rule of law”.

Syrian security forces deployed heavily in the Alawite heartland on the country's Mediterranean coast. As many as 1000 civilians have been slaughtered according to reports. Picture: AFP

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking to German newspaper Bild, said Europe “must wake up” and “stop granting legitimacy” to the new Syrian authorities who he insisted were still jihadists.

Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said the violence was “a bad omen”.

The new government lacks the tools, incentives and local support base to engage with disgruntled Alawites, he said.

“All they have is repressive power, and a lot of that … is made up of jihadist zealots who think Alawites are enemies of God.”

Originally published as Fact finding committee says Syria determined to ‘prevent unlawful revenge’