The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry today published a report on the wave of violence that engulfed coastal and western central Syria from January, finding that acts that may amount to war crimes were committed.
The violence - which primarily targeted Alawi communities and culminated in massacres in early March - included murder, torture and inhumane acts related to the treatment of the dead, widespread looting and burning of homes all of which displaced tens of thousands of civilians. Some of these horrific acts were filmed and disseminated on social media, along with footage of civilians being abused and humiliated.
These were perpetrated by members of the interim government's forces and private individuals operating alongside or in proximity to them, as well as by pro-former government fighters or so-called "remnants." The violations included acts that likely amount to war crimes.
"The scale and brutality of the violence documented in our report is deeply disturbing," said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission. "We call on the interim authorities to continue to pursue accountability for all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation or rank. While dozens of alleged perpetrators of violations have reportedly since been arrested, the scale of the violence documented in our report warrants expanding such efforts."
In a disturbing pattern of killings documented across multiple locations, men were first identified as belonging to the Alawi sect and then separated from the women and children before being led outside to be shot and killed.
Bodies were left in the streets for days, with families prevented from conducting burials in accordance with religious rites, while others were buried in mass graves without proper documentation. Hospitals became overwhelmed as corpses piled up. Medical facilities in Tartus and Latakia had already seen their capacity crippled after attacks by pro-former government fighters during an earlier phase of the violence.
The Commission found that the interim government's forces in some instances sought to stop violations and evacuate and protect civilians. Nevertheless, at the same time, members of certain factions, recently incorporated into the interim government's security forces, extrajudicially executed, tortured and ill-treated civilians in multiple Alawi majority villages and neighbourhoods in a manner that was both widespread and systematic. The Commission documented consistent patterns of violence against the civilian population in multiple locations, which included targeting based on religious affiliation, age and gender, and collective executions.
The Commission's findings are based on extensive investigations, including over 200 interviews with victims and witnesses. The Commission is thankful for the unfettered access granted by the interim authorities to affected areas in Latakia and Tartus in June 2025, including to a range of officials as well as three mass grave sites.
Alarmingly, the Commission continues to receive information about ongoing violations in many of the affected areas, including abductions of women, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances, as well as continued looting and occupation of property. The extreme violence that occurred has deepened existing rifts between communities, contributing to a climate of fear and insecurity amongst many Syrians throughout the country.
"The affected communities need to see urgent action to increase their protection. Beyond referral of suspected perpetrators to criminal justice, individuals suspected of involvement in violations during the March events should be immediately removed from active duties pending investigation," said Commissioner Lynn Welchman. "Additionally, screening processes need to be expanded so that known or suspected perpetrators of grave violations in the past are not recruited into the ranks of the interim government security forces."
The violence examined in the report was most immediately sparked by an arrest operation launched by the Syrian interim authorities on 6 March 2025, to which pro-former government fighters responded by capturing, killing, and injuring hundreds of interim government forces.
This rapidly escalated into large-scale violence. Some 1,400 people, predominantly civilians, were reported killed in the ensuing massacres. The vast majority were adult men, but victims included approximately 100 women, the elderly and the disabled, as well as children.
The UN Commission acknowledges the commitment of Syria's interim authorities to identify those responsible and ensure accountability for the March events. A National Inquiry, appointed by the interim president on 9 March, reported on 22 July that it had preliminarily identified 298 alleged perpetrators from military factions and 265 linked to armed groups associated with the former government, referring their names to the attorney general.
"The summary report and public briefing by the Syrian National Inquiry on the March coastal violence are important steps in the process of obtaining truth and justice for all Syrians," said Commissioner Hanny Megally. "We urge the prompt release of their full report, implementation of the recommendations, and a commitment to move quickly with reform of the judiciary to advance human rights compliant trials for all accused."
The Commission notes the constructive response from Syria's interim authorities, reproduced as an annex to this report, and looks forward to continuing engagement with regard to the implementation of the report's recommendations to aid in the prevention of future violations.
The urgency of such action is evident in light of the alleged violations and abuses during recent events in Suwayda, which are currently under investigation by the Commission. The Commission reiterates its calls for de-escalation and dialogue, respect for human rights for all people, free from any form of discrimination, and for accountability for perpetrators of violations and abuses. It also reiterates its call to respect international humanitarian law, in particular the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and the protection of all civilians.
