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Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Syrian factions committed ‘widespread and systematic' attacks on civilians in coastal violence, U.N. says
DAMASCUS, Syria — A U.N.-backed commission that investigated sectarian violence on Syria's coast earlier this year found that there was 'widespread and systematic' violence against civilians perpetrated by some government-affiliated factions, but found no evidence that it was directed by the central government. An extensive report released Thursday by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria examined the violence that began with clashes between armed groups aligned with former Syrian President Bashar Assad and the new government's security forces in March. It spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks and massacres that killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs. The violence came months after Assad was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive in December, and at a time when the country's new rulers were attempting to forge a new national army out of a patchwork of former insurgent factions. The commission named several government-affiliated factions whose members allegedly took part in 'extrajudicial killings and torture and ill-treatment' of civilians in Alawite-majority areas 'in a manner that was both widespread and systematic.' They include the 62nd and 76th divisions of the new Syrian army, also known as the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division — both of them formerly part of a coalition made up of Turkish-backed armed factions in northwest Syria. The report also singled out the 400th Division, made up of former brigades of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist rebel group that was formerly led by Syria's current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. However, the report said the commission 'found no evidence of a governmental policy or plan to carry out such attacks.' It also found that pro-Assad armed groups had committed 'acts that likely amount to crimes, including war crimes.' A separate investigation into the coastal violence ordered by the government released its findings last month. It concluded that some members of the new Syrian military had committed 'widespread, serious violations against civilians,' but said there was no evidence that military leaders had ordered those attacks. The government investigation found that more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed. In a letter in response to Thursday's U.N. report, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the government takes 'serious note of the alleged violations' and that the recommendations — which included increased screening of recruits to the security forces and recruiting from minority communities — 'will serve as a roadmap for Syria's continued progress.' When asked how the government would deal with the divisions that allegedly carried out attacks on civilians, Ibrahim Olabi, legal advisor to the Foreign Ministry, said it was 'too early' to speak in detail but that 'we are seeking accountability within our capabilities... in order to achieve civil peace and to ensure that these violations are not repeated.' The U.N. commission's report noted that in the leadup to the coastal violence in March there had been scattered clashes between pro-Assad and new government forces as well as increasing incidents of 'harassment and violations' against Alawite communities, 'including killings, abductions, looting or occupation of property.' In early March, pro-Assad armed groups launched a series of attacks on the General Security forces of the new government along the coast. During the clashes that followed, pro-Assad fighters also overran hospitals, shot at and abducted journalists coming to cover the conflict, and in at least one case shot and killed women and children, the report said. With the General Security forces overwhelmed, tens of thousands of fighters from allied factions, as well as armed civilians, converged on the coast. Many began raiding houses in Alawite-majority areas, where in a large number of cases they 'asked civilians whether they were Sunni or Alawi' and 'Alawi men and boys were then taken away to be executed,' the report found. 'Most victims were men of Alawi background, aged between 20 to 50 years, though women and children as young as one year old were also killed during house raids,' the report said. In some cases, the bodies were desecrated and family members were prevented from burying their dead. The report also found that there had been widespread cases of robbery and looting by armed groups. The commission also investigated reports of kidnapping of Alawite women and found 'credible information' of at least six cases in the weeks preceding and following the main outbreak of violence in March. It is investigating 'dozens' of other reports. In at least two of the confirmed cases, the victims were 'abducted for the purpose of forced marriage,' while in other cases the kidnappers demanded ransoms from the victims' families. In one particularly disturbing case before the coastal clashes, the report said masked men dressed in black and wearing black headbands inscribed with 'There is no god but God' abducted a woman from the street and gang-raped her, then sold her to an older man to whom she was forcibly married. 'The Commission is not aware of any individuals being arrested or prosecuted yet in connection with these abductions,' the report said. Olabi said the allegations are 'criminal matters under investigation by the security authorities' and are separate from the investigation into the March coastal violence. The report comes as Syria is reeling from another outbreak of sectarian violence last month that has again threatened the country's fragile political transition after nearly 14 years of civil war. This time, clashes broke out in the southern Sweida province between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side, and fighters from the country's Druze minority on the other. Hundreds were killed and tens of thousands displaced, and allegations have surfaced of government fighters executing Druze civilians and looting and burning houses. The government has again launched an investigation into the allegations, but minority communities have become increasingly wary of the Sunni Muslim-led authorities. Last week, representatives of Syria's various ethnic and religious groups held a conference in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city and called for the formation of a decentralized state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism. Sewell and Alsayed write for the Associated Press. Sewell reported from Beirut.
5 days ago
- Politics
Syrian factions committed 'widespread and systematic' attacks on civilians: UN
BEIRUT -- A U.N.-backed commission that investigated sectarian violence on Syria's coast earlier this year found that there was 'widespread and systematic' violence against civilians perpetrated by some government-affiliated factions, but found no evidence that it was directed by the central government. An extensive report released Thursday by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria examined the violence that began with clashes between armed groups aligned with former Syrian President Bashar Assad and the new government's security forces in March. It then spiraled into sectarian revenge attacks and massacres that killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority to which Assad belongs. The violence came months after Assad was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive in December and at a time when the country's new rulers were attempting to forge a new national army out of a patchwork of former insurgent factions. The commission named several government-affiliated factions whose members allegedly took part in 'extrajudicial killings and torture and ill-treatment of primarily the civilian population of Alawi majority villages and neighborhoods in a manner that was both widespread and systematic" during the coastal violence. They include the 62nd and 76th divisions of the new Syrian army, also known as the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division — both of them formerly part of a coalition made up of Turkish-backed armed factions in northwest Syria. The report also singled out the 400th Division, made up of former brigades of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist rebel group that was formerly led by Syria's current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. However, the report said the commission "found no evidence of a governmental policy or plan to carry out such attacks." It also found that pro-Assad armed groups had committed 'acts that likely amount to crimes, including war crimes" during the violence. A separate investigation into the coastal violence ordered by the government released its findings last month. It concluded that some members of the new Syrian military had committed 'widespread, serious violations against civilians,' but said there was no evidence that military leaders had ordered those attacks. The government investigation found that more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed. In a letter in response to Thursday's U.N. report, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said the government takes 'serious note of the alleged violations' detailed in it the report and said that the recommendations — which included increased screening of recruits to the security forces and recruiting from minority communities — 'will serve as a roadmap for Syria's continued progress.' The U.N. commission's report noted that in the leadup to the coastal violence in March there had been scattered clashes between pro-Assad and new government forces as well as increasing incidents of 'harassment and violations" against Alawite communities, "including killings, abductions, looting or occupation of property.' In early March, pro-Assad armed groups launched a series of attacks on the General Security forces of the new government along the coast. During the clashes that followed, pro-Assad fighters also overran hospitals, shot at and abducted journalists coming to cover the conflict, and in at least one case shot and killed women and children, the report said. With the General Security forces overwhelmed, tens of thousands of fighters from allied factions, as well as armed civilians, converged on the coast. Many began raiding houses in Alawite-majority areas, where in many cases they 'asked civilians whether they were Sunni or Alawi' and 'Alawi men and boys were then taken away to be executed,' the report found. 'Most victims were men of Alawi background, aged between 20 to 50 years, though women and children as young as one year old were also killed during house raids,' the report said. In some cases, the bodies were then desecrated, and family members were prevented from burying their dead. The report also found that there had been widespread cases of robbery and looting by armed groups. The commission also investigated reports of kidnapping of Alawite women and found 'credible information' of at least six cases in the weeks preceding and following the main outbreak of violence in March. It is investigating 'dozens' of other reports. In at least two of the confirmed cases, the victims were 'abducted for the purpose of forced marriage,' while in other cases, the kidnappers demanded ransoms from the victims' families. In one particularly disturbing case prior to the coastal clashes, the report said masked men dressed in black and wearing black headbands inscribed with 'There is no god but God' abducted a woman from the street and gang-raped her, then sold her to an older man to whom she was forcibly married. 'The Commission is not aware of any individuals being arrested or prosecuted yet in connection with these abductions,' the report said. The investigation into the coastal violence comes as Syria is reeling from another outbreak of sectarian violence last month that has again threatened the country's fragile political transition after nearly 14 years of civil war. This time, clashes broke out in the southern Sweida province between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side, and fighters from the country's Druze minority on the other. Hundreds were killed and tens of thousands displaced, and allegations have surfaced of government fighters executing Druze civilians and looting and burning houses. The government has again launched an investigation into the allegations, but minority communities have become increasingly wary of the Sunni Muslim-led authorities. Last week, representatives of Syria's various ethnic and religious groups held a conference in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian city and called for the formation of a decentralized state and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees religious, cultural and ethnic pluralism.
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ozzy Osbourne's cause of death revealed; singer 'died of a heart attack': Reports
Flowers and messages are left by fans to commemorate the death of Ozzy Osbourne at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) FILE - Ozzy Osbourne arrives at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Flowers and messages are left by fans to commemorate the death of Ozzy Osbourne at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) FILE - Ozzy Osbourne arrives at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Flowers and messages are left by fans to commemorate the death of Ozzy Osbourne at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) 1 2 Ozzy Osbourne died of a heart attack and had coronary artery disease in addition to suffering from Parkinson's disease for years, his death certificate said. The singer had suffered from coronary artery disease as well as Parkinson's, according to the certificate filed at a register office in London and obtained by The New York Times on Tuesday. Osbourne died on July 22 at 76. The document was submitted by Osbourne's daughter Aimee Osbourne the New York Times reported. Osbourne died of "(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes)," the certificate states. Osbourne, also a somewhat unexpected reality TV star, announced in 2020 that he had Parkinson's disease after suffering a fall. In announcing his death, his family asked for privacy and said that he was with relatives when he died. Fans came out in droves from across the country to mourn his death in his hometown of Birmingham last week. Osbourne had his final show there just weeks before his death, as admirers watched the heavy metal icon perform while seated on a black throne. "I don't know what to say, man, I've been laid up for like six years. You have no idea how I feel - thank you from the bottom of my heart," Osbourne said during his performance. "You're all ... special. Let's go crazy, come on."
Toronto Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
FKA Twigs agrees to settle lawsuit alleging abuse from Shia LaBeouf
Published Jul 22, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - This combination photo shows FKA twigs, left, at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles, and Shia LaBeouf at the premiere of "The Peanut Butter Falcon" during the London Film Festival, on Oct. 3, 2019. Photo by Jordan Strauss/Vianney Le Caer / Jordan Strauss/Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account LOS ANGELES — FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf have agreed to settle her lawsuit alleging LaBeouf was physically and emotionally abusive to her during their relationship. An attorney for the 37-year-old English singer and actor FKA Twigs, whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett, filed a request in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to dismiss her case against the 39-year-old American actor with prejudice, meaning it can't be filed again. 'Committed to forging a constructive path forward, we have agreed to settle our case out of court,' the two said in a joint statement issued Tuesday by their attorneys. 'While the details of the settlement will remain private, we wish each other personal happiness, professional success and peace in the future.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. First filed in 2020, the case had several trial dates scheduled in the years since, but those were always delayed well in advance. The two met and became a couple in 2018 after Barnett was cast in a supporting role in Honey Boy , an autobiographical film about LaBeouf's upbringing as a child actor. After an early 'charm offensive' from LaBeouf, the relationship became a 'living nightmare,' her lawsuit said. She said LaBeouf put her in a constant state of fear and humiliation, once slammed her into a car, tried to strangle her and knowingly gave her a sexually transmitted disease. Read More She said he also isolated her from family and friends, demanded absolute fealty and was angrily jealous of everyone from waiters she'd been polite with to her ex-fiance Robert Pattinson. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She said that her experience was part of a pattern for LaBeouf. 'Shia LaBeouf hurts women,' the suit said. 'He uses them. He abuses them, both physically and mentally. He is dangerous.' LaBeouf said in a statement just after the lawsuit was filed that he had been 'abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I'm ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt.' But he denied the accusations in the lawsuit in a 2021 filing, saying any injuries done or damages incurred by Barnett were not his doing. LaBeouf is best known for his roles in 2007′s Transformers and in 2008′s Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull . He also starred in the 2019 film The Peanut Butter Falcon and in last year's Megalopolis . Known for her genre-bending musical styles, FKA Twigs worked as a backup dancer for other artists before releasing her studio debut, LP1 , in 2014. She followed it with 2019's Magdalene and Eusexua from earlier this year. As an actor, she appeared in 2024's The Crow . RECOMMENDED VIDEO Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances. Canada Olympics Entertainment Columnists Celebrity
