The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has released a report on 27 March 2025 detailing extreme violence in Suwayda, Syria, in July 2025, which resulted in more than 1,700 deaths and the displacement of nearly 200,000 people.
Based on 409 first-hand accounts and field visits facilitated by the Syrian government, the report documents potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, including executions, torture and gender-based violence.
Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission, said: “The scale and brutality of the violence and violations documented in Suwayda are deeply distressing.”
He added that there are “expanded efforts to pursue accountability for all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation or rank.”
The escalation, triggered by intercommunal tensions and exacerbated by Israeli military intervention, occurred in three distinct phases:
First wave (14–16 July 2025): Government forces and tribal fighters targeted Druze communities in western Suwayda and Suwayda city. This involved the systematic separation and execution of men, alongside arbitrary detention and pillage.
Second wave (17 July 2025): Following a government withdrawal prompted by Israeli airstrikes, Druze armed groups retaliated against the Bedouin community, committing murder and torture that led to the near-total forced displacement of the local Bedouin population.
Third wave (17–19 July 2025): Tribal fighters launched a retaliatory assault on 35 Druze-majority or mixed villages. This was the most destructive phase, involving the burning of tens of thousands of homes, businesses and religious sites. The report also states that some government forces members removed their uniforms and joined the attacks.
The Commission confirmed at least 1,707 total fatalities with the following breakdown:
While most of the hundreds abducted have been released, approximately 100 Druze, 20 Bedouin and 30 government personnel remain missing. Sexual violence, including rape, was reported in both communities and remains under investigation.
Currently, around 155,000 displaced people - mostly Druze from destroyed villages, along with nearly the entire Bedouin population - are unable to return home.
Commission Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro emphasised the urgent need for accountability to rebuild trust. While the Syrian government has detained 23 security and army personnel following a national inquiry, the Commission is calling for further investigations into command responsibility.
The report also highlights that Israeli intervention and the spread of online misinformation - including fabricated claims of harm to infants circulated by Israeli officials - deepened sectarian divisions and incited further hatred.
The Commission urges all parties, including Druze armed groups and external actors such as Israel, to uphold international law, halt destabilising actions and support reconciliation efforts.
AnewZ has released the official trailer for its upcoming original documentary, Halfway Across, an investigation into the systems behind ille...
Hamas would have to allow its vast network of tunnels in Gaza to be destroyed as it gives up its weapons over eight months, under a disarmament pla...
Georgia’s ambitions to position itself as a key bridge between Europe and Asia are gaining renewed attent...
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has released a report on 27 March 2025 detailing extreme violence i...
Uzbekistan is pursuing a dual-track development strategy, combining the expansion of its energy sector with an ambiti...
The United States has confirmed that a meeting between Syrian and Israeli representatives in Paris resulted in progress towards de-escalation, following recent tensions in southern Syria.
A fragile ceasefire has been declared in southern Syria’s Suwayda province on Saturday, following intense fighting that left hundreds dead.
Israel said it had killed Alireza Tangsiri, the Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Navy, on Thursday, as confict in the Middle East continued.
Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal to end the war, insisting any ceasefire will occur only on its own terms and timeline, according to a senior political-security official speaking to state-run Press TV on Wednesday.
Iran's guards have said the important Strait is closed and anyone passing through will face "harsh measures". U.S. President Donald Trump has extended his timeline on striking against Iran's energy sites, as Tehran says diplomacy is ongoing - latest on Middle East conflict.
Northern European countries must significantly boost military drone production to help Ukraine defeat Russia, Latvia’s Prime Minister has said, warning that victory would be “impossible” without greater support.
Conflicting messages emerged from Iran about its response to a U.S. peace offer reportedly delivered to it by Pakistan on Wednesday (25 March). Meanwhile, Tehran's government unveiled its own counterproposal to end the conflict.
The 2025 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) annual report, presented by Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of the organisation, reveals a significant shift in stance and policy.
U.S. paper currency will bear President Donald Trump's signature starting this summer, the first time a sitting president has signed American money, the Treasury Department said on Thursday. The change comes as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Mexico's navy said it had activated a search-and-rescue operation in the Caribbean to locate two sailboats carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after the vessels failed to arrive in Havana.
A powerful tropical cyclone in Western Australia has disrupted production at the country’s two biggest liquefied natural gas plants run by Chevron and Woodside, exacerbating a global supply crunch caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
France has rejected claims that South Africa was dropped from the guest list for this year’s G7 summit under pressure from United States, insisting the decision to invite Kenya was its own.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment