The ongoing conflict in Syria continues to reveal deep social fractures, especially following the horrific sectarian violence last summer. A recent United Nations inquiry sheds light on the severe violations committed, primarily affecting the Druze community. This report calls for accountability and highlights the urgent need for a thorough investigation by the Syrian government.
BEIRUT (AP) — A United Nations inquiry said Friday that there is “no indication” Syria has investigated violations its forces committed during sectarian clashes last summer in which at least 1,700 people died, the vast majority from the Druze religious minority.
In a scathing report, the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic urged Syria’s government to investigate the leadership of its security forces that allowed or organized sectarian attacks against the Druze community.
The report estimates about 200,000 people were displaced in the violence in Sweida, the heartland of Syria’s Druze community. Among the dead were almost 200 women and children.
In mid-July, armed groups affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri clashed with local Bedouin clans, prompting intervention by government forces who effectively sided with the Bedouins. Targeted sectarian attacks against both the Druze and Bedouin communities, along with a series of abductions, further exacerbated tensions.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has vowed to investigate the events and hold perpetrators on all sides accountable, including members of the government forces.
U.N. investigators spent weeks in Syria, interviewing more than 400 survivors, officials, and alleged perpetrators. They visited affected areas, including those under government control and those governed by an Israeli-backed umbrella group of local armed Druze factions.
Damascus needs to address whether “certain practices are tolerated” within elements of its security agencies, the report stated, emphasizing the need to identify and remove the leadership complicit in the violence.
Armed tribal fighters from other regions mobilized in Sweida to support government forces, and the report indicated that the authorities appeared “unwilling or unable” to confront them.
The dayslong summer clashes in Sweida represented a setback for al-Sharaa, who has been attempting to assert his government’s full authority across the war-torn country and appeal to Syria’s minority groups.
While some prisoner swaps have occurred, meaningful reconciliation remains elusive. Human rights groups criticize Damascus for the lack of viable accountability measures for attacks against civilians.
Systematic atrocities and overwhelmed hospitals
The report highlighted “widespread looting and systematic burning” during the government-led advance, as well as killings and abductions of civilians. Tribal fighters targeted nearly every home in 35 villages within the province that were mixed or predominantly Druze.
“Particularly, the Druze population has been subjected to severe sectarian violence, leading to significant displacement that is expected to persist for an extended period,” the report noted.
Some bodies were discovered months after the ceasefire, with some visible on streets or in fields, while others were found burned or mutilated.
“Nearly all Druze religious sites in those villages were looted, burned, and vandalized,” according to the report, which also mentioned that three houses of worship were set ablaze, and one was looted and vandalized.
Retaliatory assaults against Bedouin civilians predominantly took place in Sweida province’s western countryside. The report indicated that while most documented incidents occurred amidst hostilities, numerous attacks appeared to be deliberately directed at civilian targets.
The report described instances where Bedouin civilians, including children and the elderly, were shot while attempting to flee, and highlighted a case in which two men’s bodies were left hanging at a village gate for days. Four mosques were also targeted.
The scale of violence overwhelmed hospitals in both Sweida and neighboring Daraa province, as hundreds of bodies were brought in during the escalating violence, leading to a morgue saturation. Many bodies were severely burned, while others were left outside, likely scavenged by wild animals prior to being discovered.
“Hospital staff and first responders were forced to allow the burial of bodies before they could be identified, while retaining records and images to assist in subsequent identification,” the report stated.
Key Takeaways
- At least 1,700 people died in sectarian clashes in Syria last summer.
- The U.N. report urges the Syrian government to investigate its security forces’ actions.
- Approximately 200,000 individuals were displaced during the violence.
- Significant atrocities include widespread looting and systematic violence against the Druze community.
- Many victims remained unidentified due to overwhelming circumstances in hospitals.
FAQ
What percentage of the casualties were from the Druze community?
The vast majority of the casualties during the sectarian clashes were from the Druze religious minority.
How did the conflict escalate in Sweida last summer?
The violence began with clashes between armed Druze groups and local Bedouin clans, leading to government intervention.
What has the Syrian government pledged in response to the findings?
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has committed to investigating the events and holding all responsible parties accountable.
