Report calls for accountability over sectarian crimes in Syria’s coast

HTW, Syrians for Truth and Justice, and the Syrian Archive said in a report released today, Tuesday, that the Syrian transitional government had pledged accountability for the violence that swept through three provinces in March 2025. However, it has provided only limited transparency regarding whether the investigation examined the role of senior military and civilian leaders, or what steps would be taken next to ensure that those in power are held accountable.

The report documented extensive violations committed by transitional government forces and allied armed groups, including summary executions, deliberate destruction of property, and mistreatment of detainees. It stressed that these crimes took place as part of a centrally coordinated military operation overseen by the Ministry of Defense of the transitional government.

Hiba Zayadin, Senior Syria Researcher at HRW, said, “Holding the government to its acknowledgment of atrocities is a step forward, but it falls short of delivering justice for the senior officials who enabled these crimes or failed to stop them. Continued impunity paves the way for further reprisals and atrocities.”

According to the report, the violence erupted on March 6 with security operations by transitional government forces across the region, primarily targeting Alawite communities, and was marked by wide-scale, identity-based violations and crimes.

The findings were based on more than 100 interviews with victims, witnesses, fighters, and journalists, as well as verified audio-visual materials and satellite imagery. They showed that violations affected more than 24 towns, villages, and neighborhoods between March 6 and 10.

The report affirmed that “the Ministry of Defense played a pivotal role in mobilizing fighters and coordinating their deployment, while the military leadership continued its operations despite being aware of grave violations.”

On July 22, the “Syrian National Investigative Committee” announced that at least 1,426 people had been killed and that authorities had referred 298 suspects to court. However, the committee did not address the role of senior officials in enabling or failing to prevent the violations, instead framing the events as personal acts of vengeance.

The report emphasized that the transitional government’s credibility will be measured by its next steps, including publishing the full report, ensuring accountability at all levels, and avoiding reliance on prosecuting individuals in isolation. It also called for allowing international accountability mechanisms access, implementing security and structural reforms, vetting fighters’ backgrounds, and expelling those implicated in abuses.

Program Director at the Syrian Archive Julnar Ahmad said, “This is not just about what happened in one week in March. It points to a broader pattern that requires structural and transparent remedies.”

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