The UN has confirmed 111 civilian deaths in mass killings in Syria, believed to be higher. UN spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan indicated that many killings were targeted summary executions based on sectarian identity. Calls for accountability and adherence to international law were emphasized following the violence initiated on March 6.
In a recent press briefing in Geneva, a spokesperson for the United Nations Human Rights office disclosed that at least 111 Syrian civilians have been confirmed dead due to mass killings in the coastal regions of Syria. This number is suspected to be significantly higher as the investigation continues.
The UN spokesperson, Thameen Al Kheetan, revealed that many of the documented cases indicated summary executions aimed at specific religious groups. These incidents reportedly occurred in the Tartus, Latakia, and Hama governorates, involving unidentified armed individuals and groups affiliated with the former government, which allegedly supported the caretaker authorities’ security forces.
Al Kheetan underscored that entire families, including women and children, have suffered attacks. Eyewitness accounts described raiders questioning victims about their religious affiliations, specifically whether they were Alawite or Sunni, before deciding to either spare or kill them. Furthermore, several hospitals in the affected regions have been targeted, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage.
According to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, violence against civilians is strictly prohibited. Attacks motivated by religious beliefs may also constitute genocidal acts under the Genocide Convention or war crimes as per the Rome Statute. Al Kheetan warned that prevailing hate speech and misinformation could exacerbate divisions within Syria and intensify ongoing conflicts.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, which led to his exile in Russia, the governing party was disbanded by Syria’s interim leadership. The sectarian undercurrents of the Syrian conflict are pronounced, as the Alawite sect has largely supported Assad. Reports of violent reprisals suggest that both pro and anti-Assad factions might be responsible for the violence.
Violence erupted in Syria’s coastal areas on March 6, with coordinated assaults attributed to sectarian militias and former regime affiliates targeting civilians. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk confirmed ongoing summary executions carried out by unidentified assailants linked to the caretaker authorities and prior government members.
Türk asserted the necessity for accountability for the perpetrators of these heinous acts against civilians. He urged the caretaker authorities to align their military operations with international human rights and humanitarian laws, and to conduct thorough and impartial investigations into the reported atrocities.
The UN has confirmed that at least 111 civilians were killed in recent sectarian violence in Syria, with indications that the actual death toll may be much higher. The evidence suggests organized summary executions targeting specific religious groups, underscoring severe violations of international humanitarian law. The UN has called for accountability and compliance with human rights obligations from the caretaker authorities, emphasizing the urgent need for impartial investigations into these acts.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
