UN: Violence in Syria’s coastal region amounts to war crimes

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria concluded on Thursday that the violence in the coastal area last March was systematic and widespread, specifically targeting the Alawite minority. It led to the deaths of over 1,700 people, including 90 women whose names have been documented.

The commission confirmed that the violations, carried out by transitional government forces and allied militias, included killings, torture, looting, and the burning of homes, and may amount to war crimes.

The report documented the raiding of homes, leaving bodies in the streets, or burying them in mass graves without proper documentation. It also referenced video footage showing armed individuals killing civilians after humiliating them.

The report, based on more than 200 interviews and visits to mass graves, indicated that the violence followed a systematic pattern across multiple locations, despite no evidence of a centralized government plan to implement it.

The commission called on authorities to prosecute all perpetrators, immediately remove suspects from service, and take urgent measures to protect affected communities.

The report emphasized that violations are ongoing, including the abduction of women and arbitrary detentions, and urged the rapid publication of the full report and the implementation of its recommendations, alongside judicial reforms to ensure that all involved are tried in accordance with human rights.

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ANHA