Latest news with #MurhafAbuQasra
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syria launches probes into extrajudicial killings in Druze heartland - Region
Syria said on Tuesday that it had launched investigations into reported extrajudicial killings in the country's Druze heartland, promising to punish perpetrators including any government-affiliated personnel after a week of sectarian bloodshed. The violence, which began on July 13 and ended with a weekend ceasefire, started with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes but soon escalated, killing more than 1,300 people, mostly Druze, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. Witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory have accused government forces of siding with the Bedouin and committing abuses including summary executions when they entered Sweida last week. The interior ministry on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms the videos circulating showing field executions carried out by unidentified individuals in Sweida". For days, brutal videos on social media have appeared to show the execution of people in civilian clothing. "These acts are serious crimes punishable by law with most severe penalties," the ministry statement said. Authorities "have begun an urgent investigation to identify those involved" and arrest them, it continued, adding that "nobody is above the law". According to the Observatory, the dead included 533 Druze fighters and 300 civilians from the religious minority, 196 of whom were "summarily executed by defence and interior ministry personnel". The toll also includes 423 government security personnel, and 35 Sunni Bedouin, three of them civilians who were "summarily executed by Druze fighters", according to the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria. Another 15 government personnel were killed in Israeli air strikes launched in support of the Druze, it added. Separately, the defence ministry said Tuesday that it was looking into "reports of shocking and serious violations committed by an unidentified group wearing military uniform in Sweida city". A committee would "investigate the affiliation and background of the individuals" involved, a statement said. It added that groups from other areas "were present in Sweida city and carried out revenge operations there". "No tolerance will be shown to any perpetrator of violations, even if they are affiliated with the defence ministry," Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra was quoted as saying. The announcements came hours after a committee investigating massacres of mostly Alawite civilians in March released its findings, including that it had identified people "linked to certain military groups and factions" among those involved in the bloodshed. A ceasefire in Sweida took effect on Sunday, after Bedouin and tribal fighters withdrew from Sweida city and Druze groups regained control, while government forces deployed in parts of the province. The United Nations said Tuesday it was relocating its staff and their families from the city, and that it had handed a new aid shipment to the Syrian Red Crescent destined for Sweida. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Iraqi News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Syria opens urgent probe into field executions in Suwayda
INA-sources The Syrian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday the formation of an investigative committee to pursue those involved in carrying out field executions in Suwayda, southern Syria, state news agency SANA reported. The announcement was made in a statement from the ministry's media and communication department. 'The Ministry of Defense, represented by Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, has followed reports of shocking and serious violations committed by an unidentified group wearing military uniforms in the city of Suwayda,' the statement said. 'Based on strict directives previously issued by the ministry prohibiting the entry of any unauthorized formations into the military operations area, a committee has been formed to follow up on the violations in Suwayda, and to investigate the affiliation and background of the individuals who committed them.' The ministry confirmed that 'the harshest penalties will be imposed on those found responsible once identified.' 'None of the perpetrators of these violations will be tolerated, even if they belong to the Ministry of Defense,' the defense minister was quoted as saying. Earlier in the day, Syria's Interior Ministry also announced the opening of an 'urgent' investigation to pursue those involved in the field executions in Suwayda. Source: AA
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Syria's defence ministry aware of reports of 'shocking violations' in Sweida
The Syrian defence ministry said it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" carried out by fighters wearing military fatigues in the Druze heartland of Sweida, and said it was launch a probe into the week of deadly clashes. Sectarian clashes increased last week between the Druze and Bedouin tribes. Fighting escalated when government forces were sent to the city. More than 300 people were killed in the fighting that also drew in Israeli strikes. Israel claims to be supporting the Druze, who form a significant minority in Israel but are often subjected to army conscription. Syria and Israel agreed to a ceasefire on Friday. War monitors and witnesses accused forces affiliated to the government of carrying out executions in the city. Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement on Tuesday there would be "no tolerance" for perpetrators of human rights violations in Sweida, even if they were committed by ministry forces. A committee has been tasked to investigate the reports and to try to identify those who were wearing military uniforms and carrying out atrocities. Separately, the Syrian interior ministry said it had launched an investigation into reports of field executions committed by "unknown people" in Sweida. "Such acts constitute serious crimes," ministry spokesperson Nour Al Din Al Baba said, stressing that the ministry was also working on identifying those involved. Last week's violence in Sweida is just the latest episode of sectarian fighting that the new authorities in Damascus have been linked to. A Syrian fact-finding committee said separately on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said he had advised Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach in the wake of the latest sectarian flare-up, or risk losing international support. In an interview with Reuters in Beirut, Mr Barrack said the Syrian leader could "grow up as a president and say, 'the right thing for me to do is not to follow my theme, which isn't working so well.'" Mr Shara, leader of a former Al Qaeda offshoot, came to power in Syria after guerilla fighters he led brought down President Bashar al-Assad in December last year after more than 13 years of civil war. While many of his fighters have roots in extremism, he has vowed to protect members of minorities. But that pledge has been challenged by mass killings of members of the Alawite sect - which Assad belonged to - and now by the latest violence involving the Druze. Mr Barrack however pushed back on reports that Syrian security forces were responsible for the violations. "The Syrian troops haven't gone into the city. These atrocities that are happening are not happening by the Syrian regime troops. They're not even in the city because they agreed with Israel that they would not go in," he said. Th US State Department confirmed the death of a US citizen last week in Sweida, adding that it was providing consular assistance to the family.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Syria probes extrajudicial killings in Druze region, vows justice
DAMASCUS: Syria has initiated investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings in the Druze-majority region of Sweida, vowing severe penalties for perpetrators, including government-linked personnel. The probe follows a week of sectarian violence that left over 1,300 dead, predominantly Druze civilians and fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The clashes, which erupted on July 13 between Druze factions and Sunni Bedouin tribes, escalated rapidly, with witnesses and monitors accusing government forces of siding with Bedouin groups and committing abuses. Videos circulating on social media appear to show executions of civilians, prompting the interior ministry to condemn the acts as 'serious crimes punishable by law with the most severe penalties.' Authorities stated that an urgent investigation is underway to identify and arrest those responsible, emphasizing that 'nobody is above the law.' The Observatory reported that 533 Druze fighters and 300 civilians, including 196 summarily executed by security personnel, were among the dead. Additionally, 423 government forces and 35 Bedouin, including three civilians allegedly killed by Druze fighters, were reported killed. The defence ministry separately announced an inquiry into 'shocking violations' by unidentified individuals in military uniforms in Sweida. Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra warned of zero tolerance for violators, even if affiliated with the military. A ceasefire was brokered on Sunday after Bedouin fighters withdrew from Sweida city, allowing Druze groups to regain control while government forces deployed in parts of the province. The UN has relocated staff from the area and delivered aid via the Syrian Red Crescent. - AFP
Roya News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Syria vows to punish military-linked abuses in Sweida
The Syrian Ministry of Defense said Tuesday it is aware of reports of 'shocking violations' committed by individuals wearing military uniforms in the Druze-majority city of Sweida, amid ongoing fallout from recent clashes in the area. According to Reuters, a ministry statement quoted Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra as saying there would be zero tolerance for those responsible for the crimes, 'even if they are affiliated with the ministry.' 'The harshest penalties will be imposed on the individuals who committed violations in Sweida, once their identities are confirmed,' the statement said. The ministry added that the defense minister will personally oversee the investigations being conducted by a military violations committee.
