International Commission of Inquiry continues its work in Sweida, meets witnesses

The International Commission of Inquiry began its field mission to investigate the facts inside Sweida and its countryside in terms of the violations and massacres that occurred in the city in mid-July.

A day after the commission entered the affected villages of Sweida western countryside, representatives of the International Commission visited Qanawat town, where they met with the head of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hejri. Then, the delegation moved to the Sweida hospital and interviewed several witnesses.

Lawyer Ayman Sheib Eldin reported on his Facebook webpage that he met with two international investigators in his office in Sweida, making clear that the commission comprises multiple specialized teams, including criminal, documentary, political, and military aspects.

He explained that the commission's mission "is not restricted by a specific timeframe, and it will continue its tours, receive testimonies, and collect evidence and documentation, as long as nothing prevents or hinders its work. The commission is not stationed or resident in Sweida; rather, it will come and go according to its plan, and according to what the authorities permit in terms of entry into Sweida."

Lawyer Ayman Sheib Eldin referred to a lengthy testimony he provided to investigators, covering the period since Ahmad al-Sharaa assumed power in Syria, through all the political, social, and security stages, and up to the waves of public sectarian incitement that preceded the "genocidal massacres during the invasion of Sweida by forces from the Ministries of Defense and Interior in mid-July."

The commission's report is supposed to be issued in January 2026, according to Sheib Eldin.

In a briefing by the commission's chair, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, to the Human Rights Council in Geneva last month, the International Commission emphasized that its mission aims to "gather accurate information and analyze field facts," in addition to confirming the importance of listening to victims and those affected to enhance transparency and provide an impartial database that contributes to the accountability process.

On July 13, Sweida and its countryside witnessed a military escalation between the forces of the Syrian transitional government and armed groups on the one hand, and the local military forces now known as the "National Guard" on the other hand. This escalation resulted in the killing of more than 2,048 people, including more than 200 Druze who were summarily executed, in addition to dozens of kidnapped and missing persons.

The Syrian transitional government had previously prevented the International Committee from entering Sweida, citing the security situation in the region and on the Damascus-Sweida highway.

J.J