War crimes likely committed by both sides in Syria sectarian violence, UN commission says
GENEVA (Reuters) -War crimes were likely committed by both members of interim government forces and fighters loyal to Syria's former rulers during a major outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria's coastal areas that culminated in a series of March massacres, a U.N. team of investigators found in a report on Thursday.
Some 1,400 people, mainly civilians, were reported killed during the violence that primarily targeted Alawi communities, and reports of violations continue, according to a report by the U.N. Syria Commission of Inquiry.
The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last year, prompting the interim government to name a fact-finding committee.
(Reporting by Emma Farge and Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Miranda Murray)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Turkey condemns Israeli settlement plan as illegal under international law
ANKARA: Turkey condemns Israel's settlement plan aimed at dividing the West Bank and cutting it off from East Jerusalem, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, adding the decision was a total violation of international law. 'This step... totally disregards international law and United Nations resolutions; targets the State of Palestine's territorial integrity, the basis for a two-state solution, and hopes for peace,' it said in a statement, reiterating that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state was the only way to achieve lasting peace. - Reuters
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
US military deploys forces to Caribbean to combat drug cartels
WASHINGTON: The United States has ordered the deployment of air and naval forces to the southern Caribbean Sea to address threats from Latin American drug cartels, three sources briefed on the decision told Reuters on Thursday. President Donald Trump has wanted to use the military to go after Latin American drug gangs that have been designated as global terrorist organizations. The Pentagon had been directed to prepare options. One U.S. official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the additional commitment of military assets would include several P-8 spy planes, at least one warship and at least one attack submarine. The official said the process would be ongoing for several months and the plan was for them to operate in international airspace and international waters. The naval assets can be used to not just carry out intelligence and surveillance operations, but also as a launching pad for targeted strikes if a decision is made, the official added. Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border. The Trump administration in recent months has already deployed at least two warships to help in border security efforts and drug trafficking. 'This deployment is aimed at addressing threats to U.S. national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region,' one of the sources said. The Trump administration designated Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and other drug gangs as well as Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua as global terrorist organizations in February, as Trump stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members. The U.S. military has already been increasing its airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to collect intelligence to determine how to best counter their activities. The Trump administration in recent months has already deployed at least two warships to help in border security efforts and to counter drug trafficking. Trump has previously offered to send U.S. troops to Mexico to help combat drug trafficking, an offer Mexico says it has refused. - Reuters
The Sun
2 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump proposes Putin-Zelenskiy Alaska meeting amid US-Russia talks
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would like to see a second meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Alaska. Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday. 'I would say that tomorrow, all I want to do is set the table for the next meeting, which should happen shortly. ... I'd like to see it actually happen, maybe in Alaska,' Trump said. - Reuters
