اخبار سوريا اليوم – وطن نيوز
سوريا اليوم – اخبار سوريا عاجل
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-03-17 18:11:00
The National Committee to Investigate the Suwayda Events delivered its final report to the Syrian Minister of Justice, Mazhar al-Wais, today, Tuesday, March 17, during a press conference held in the Ministry of Information building in Damascus, attended by Enab Baladi. “The Report”: 1,760 victims from all parties. The National Investigation Committee for the Suwayda events said that the number of victims from all parties reached 1,760, and the number of injured reached 2,188. The head of the committee, Judge Hatem al-Naasan, stated during a press conference that the violations were individual and not systematic, and this was confirmed by survivors’ testimonies to the committee, according to what he said. Al-Naasan stated that referral to the judiciary during their work is not within their jurisdiction, but given the sensitivity of the events, it was agreed with the Minister of Justice that accountability be immediate before the final report is issued. 23 security and army personnel who were involved in committing violations were arrested, and they are now being tried in public before the judiciary. The spokesman for the investigation committee, lawyer Ammar Ezz El-Din, stated that the report is independent from the report of the international investigation committee, and consists of 850 pages, and its sole goal is to achieve justice for victims from all parties. The “Committee” stated that the support of the Minister of Justice Ali contributed to completing its mission with independence and transparency, which led to the issuance of the final report, which worked to investigate the facts and collect information and evidence related to human rights violations related to the events in Suwayda, with the aim of reaching the truth and providing a “neutral” assessment of the facts related to the conflict. The Committee expressed its appreciation to all victims, witnesses, individuals, ministries and government institutions who provided information or cooperated with the Committee during its work, stressing that documenting these events represents a necessary step in a broader path towards justice, equity and building sustainable peace. The Committee stressed the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report to achieve justice for victims and hold perpetrators of violations accountable, in order to reinforce the principle of no impunity and guarantee that these violations will not be repeated in the future. What about missing people? Regarding the file of missing persons, the “Committee” stated that it was unable to determine the final number of missing persons, as a result of the lack of sufficient information received from all sides, and the Committee’s inability to enter the city of Suwayda, as it documented 60 missing persons from the Suwayda tribes, and 30 missing persons from the Ministry of Defense. Reasons for the tension The committee blamed the tension on the policies and behaviors of the Assad regime, which it worked to inflame over the past years, including facilitating the entry of ISIS members into Suwayda and their committing crimes against the people of the Druze community, as it mentioned. “Involvement of various parties.” According to the “Committee,” during the period extending from July 11 to 20, 2025, waves of violence escalated among the people of the region, “Bedouins and Druze,” and included confiscation of property, cases of kidnapping and counter-kidnapping, and attacks and violations in which various parties, “Bedouins and Druze,” were involved. She added that these disputes required government intervention to resolve the clashes and impose a state of security, but the government forces were met with armed confrontations and were subjected to several ambushes, in addition to Israeli aircraft bombing government forces in the region and the General Staff in Damascus, causing more chaos and reprisals. “Grave violations of human rights.” The Committee added that, based on the testimonies it heard, the digital materials and documents it reviewed, and the field inspections it conducted, it concluded that the events that took place in Suwayda Governorate in July 2025 resulted in the occurrence of grave human rights violations. The acts included killing of more than one person, intentional killing, armed robbery of property, vandalizing and burning homes and shops, torture and insults in sectarian terms, and inciting sectarian tendencies, as mentioned in the Syrian General Penal Code No. “148” of 1949, and violating military orders, and in the Syrian Military Penal Code No. “61” of 1950, and the Law Criminalizing Torture No. “16” of 2022. She noted The “Committee” indicated that it followed up on the exchange of kidnapped persons between all parties, and these operations included the handover of 119 people from the Druze sect and 25 people from the Bedouins, tribes, and government forces, and there are still a number of missing people whose fate or places of detention it has not been able to verify, including Hamza Al-Ammarin, a worker in the Syrian Civil Defense. It also documented the displacement of 27,404 people from the Bedouins of Suwayda, and 34,845 people from the Druze in Suwayda and Christians, as a result of clashes and deliberate displacement in some cases. The displacement sites were distributed, according to the committee, as follows: 16 shelter centers in Daraa, 23 centers in Sayyida Zeinab in the Damascus countryside, in addition to one center in Zakia in the Damascus countryside, another in Jaramana, and the villages of Jabal al-Sheikh. “Suspected members of the Defense and Interior Ministry” The “Committee” confirmed that it had reached a list of suspects from members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior, from Druze armed groups, and from civilians, including Bedouins and tribes, and among those whom the Committee had reasonable grounds to suspect of involvement in crimes and serious violations. She said that she was unable to identify many of the people whose photos and videos appeared on social media, including those who were masked, so she decided to refer the aforementioned clips and photos to the Attorney General of the Republic to take the necessary legal measures and expand the scope of the investigation. Referring the file to the Attorney General of the Republic. The “Committee” referred the results of its work, along with all the investigation files and evidence it collected, to the Attorney General of the Republic, noting that the nature of the documented violations, and the repeated patterns associated with some of them over a specific period of time and in multiple locations, require the continuation of national judicial investigations to determine all responsibilities resulting from these actions. Despite the existence of strict instructions from the Ministries of Defense and Interior to protect civilians, property, and civilian objects, according to the committee, it noted that the widespread proliferation of weapons and the presence of multiple armed groups outside the full institutional control of the state has contributed to increasing the possibility of violations against civilians, and has complicated efforts to protect the population and restore stability. According to the committee, the evidence it collected indicates the involvement of individuals belonging to various parties in committing violations, including members of irregular armed groups and elements of ISIS, and people who acted individually or within local groups. In addition to evidence proving the involvement of members of the government security and military forces, information related to those suspected of involvement was referred to the competent judicial authorities for consideration in accordance with legal procedures. The “Committee” continued that the army and public security forces tried to prevent the tribal forces from reaching Suwayda, but they did not succeed in doing so due to their large numbers, and the laxity of some individuals with them after witnessing the violations. The committee documented numerous testimonies stating that General Security prevented the tribes from reaching Suwayda, and forced them to return after their arrival in Damascus. Government authorities took initial measures to investigate the violations committed, including forming the committee that issued this report, as well as arresting a number of individuals suspected of involvement and referring them to justice. The continuation of these measures in a transparent and independent manner constitutes an essential step to strengthen accountability and prevent impunity, according to what was stated in the press conference. Burning and looting. The “Committee” reported that at least thirty-six villages in the As-Suwayda countryside were burned or vandalized, with religious sites being targeted by armed groups from neighboring villages and some groups from outside the governorate, with the aim of stealing, plundering and revenge, which led to the displacement of a large number of its residents from the Druze community. The “Committee” also documented the occurrence of retaliatory attacks targeting Bedouin population centers inside the city of Suwayda and its surroundings, with burning, destruction, and looting by Druze armed groups, which in turn led to displacement and forced displacement that affected most Bedouin families. Recommendations of the Committee: The “Committee” recommended referring all individuals, whether civilian or government, regarding whom there is information that suggests the commission of crimes to the competent judiciary, and ensuring that fair and transparent trials are conducted in accordance with international standards for fair trial. It also recommends strengthening the capabilities of the competent judicial authorities to investigate serious crimes, including crimes committed against civilians and gross human rights violations. In addition to the need to accelerate the implementation of government programs to carry out broad legislative and institutional reforms, to enhance the independence of the judiciary and its ability to deal with serious crimes and hold their perpetrators accountable. Identify and protect potential mass burial sites, conduct the necessary criminal investigations in accordance with international standards, and preserve physical and digital evidence related to violations to ensure that they can be used in future judicial proceedings. Addressing the deep causes of violence in Suwayda Governorate and in Syria in general requires a comprehensive approach that combines legal accountability, reforming security and judicial institutions, promoting dialogue and community reconciliation, and addressing the economic and social challenges that contribute to fueling conflicts. In addition to taking urgent measures to enhance the protection of civilians in Suwayda, including enhancing the deployment of professionally trained regular security forces, and taking effective measures to prevent acts of revenge and violence between local communities. Develop a comprehensive national plan to collect unlicensed weapons, confine weapons to the state, and dismantle criminal networks involved in kidnapping, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities. The committee called for supporting government efforts to enhance the professionalism and impartiality of security services, ensuring that they are subject to effective legal and institutional oversight, and adopting clear mechanisms for accountability and investigation into any violations committed by their members. Take effective legal and institutional measures to prevent the spread of hate speech and incitement to violence, including through the media and social media platforms, and take legislative, executive and educational measures to prevent incitement to violence, strife, or incitement of sectarian strife. Establishing a specialized committee to follow up on cases of missing and kidnapped persons during the events, which documents and communicates with the families of the victims. Supporting dialogue initiatives between different local communities in Suwayda Governorate, and launching psychological and social support programs for victims and those affected by acts of violence. Providing urgent humanitarian aid to the displaced and those affected by the events, and supporting the rehabilitation of damaged homes and infrastructure, in addition to developing compensation programs that contribute to reparation for the victims in accordance with national laws and international standards. The Committee also recommends that the international community condemn the crimes of Israeli aggression committed against the Syrian people and Syrian territories, and enforce the provisions of the Charter and relevant international resolutions to ensure non-recurrence and any form of interference in Syrian affairs. It also called on all external parties to respect the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to refrain from any military actions or interventions that might lead to escalation of tensions or complicate efforts to achieve stability in the region. Implementing the recommendations contained in this report also requires continued commitment from state institutions, in addition to the active participation of local communities and civil society organizations. It also requires appropriate support from the international community, which contributes to strengthening trust between citizens and state institutions and consolidating the principles of good governance and the rule of law. What happened in Suwayda? The Suwayda crisis reached its peak in July 2025, when the Syrian army tried to enter the city, under the pretext of resolving clashes that broke out between the Druze component, which constitutes the majority of the governorate, and Bedouin residents. The government intervention was accompanied by violations against the city’s residents, from the Druze community, which led to the outbreak of widespread clashes, and resulted in the entry of Israel into the line, which is constantly threatening to protect the Druze in Syria, claiming the existence of kinship ties. The matter later developed into a strike on the capital, Damascus, in addition to targeting army members who entered the center of the city. The Israeli strikes led to the Syrian government forces leaving the city of Suwayda and positioning themselves in the western countryside, where they took control of more than 30 villages. On the other hand, the exit did not end the crisis, but rather it became more complicated after the local factions committed violations against the Bedouin population, out of revenge, which led to the emergence of “tribal detachments” to support the Bedouin tribes of Suwayda, and thus, clashes and violations continued on both sides. Related
