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Report
UN denounces 'distressing scale of violence in coastal areas' in Syria
FRANCE 24 English
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3/11/2025
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00:00
Fears grow over the extent of reprisals against Alawite Muslims largely loyal to the overthrown
00:05
president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad.
00:08
Now, while the interim president and former rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharra has declared
00:13
an end to what he called an operation against extremists in the west of Syria, the extent
00:17
of the violence there has shocked international observers.
00:20
The United Nations says at least 111 civilians were killed.
00:23
The actual figure, though, could be far higher.
00:27
Let's bring in Tamim al-Khetan, who put the report together.
00:30
He's the UN spokesperson for the High Commission of Refugees.
00:34
Tamim, good evening to you.
00:36
Summary executions, is that what we've been seeing in the west of Syria?
00:40
Thank you, Mark.
00:41
And if I may, I am the spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in fact.
00:46
Yes, the reports continue to emerge.
00:50
The situation is very distressing still.
00:52
The operation, officially, the security operation has ended officially yesterday, but there
00:59
are still intermittent clashes in rural areas in the coastal region of Syria.
01:07
As we speak, I have been told that our colleagues have verified 125 civilian killings during
01:17
these days.
01:18
Of course, the process of verification is still ongoing, and the actual number of people
01:23
killed is believed to be much, much higher.
01:28
So we have documented cases of summary executions in very, very horrible accounts of unidentified
01:38
armed individuals, members of armed groups who are allegedly supporting the caretaker
01:43
authorities and also elements associated with the former government.
01:48
We have seen accounts of people telling us that the perpetrators were raiding houses,
01:56
asking residents whether they were Alawite or Sunni before killing them or sparing them
02:01
accordingly.
02:02
And even some survivors have told us that many men were shot dead in front of their
02:08
families.
02:09
There has to be some element of truth and reconciliation before there's any kind of
02:14
healing process that goes forward to put Syria back together.
02:17
While this is happening, clearly, that is a long way off.
02:22
Sure, and what is needed today for Syria, of course, transitional justice, accountability
02:30
are pillars of what Syria needs today to go forward.
02:37
But for what has happened in these recent days specifically, we welcome, of course,
02:43
the announcement by the caretaker authorities of the formation of a committee, an independent
02:49
committee to investigate what has happened.
02:53
These investigations must be a prompt, thorough, impartial and independent.
03:00
And the results of these investigations must be announced to the public.
03:05
Those who are found to be responsible for violations must be held to account regardless
03:10
of their affiliation, political affiliation or religious affiliation.
03:14
And this should be, this should happen in line with international law, of course, because
03:19
victims and their families have the right to truth, justice and reparations.
03:24
This is very important in order to avoid further inflaming tensions and damaging the social
03:33
fabric of Syrian society.
03:34
Tamir al-Qahtan, the UN Spokesperson on Human Rights, thank you very much for joining us
03:38
and giving us this insight into what is happening in Syria.
03:41
Clearly, lots of change there, of course, with the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
03:46
But as Tamim was just saying, the extent of what is happening on the ground is shocking
03:51
international observers, the United Nations talking of summary executions, 127 civilians
03:56
killed, as Tamim was saying.
03:57
And of course, we will follow all developments on this story.
04:00
And our thanks again to Tamim al-Qahtan, the UN Spokesperson for the High Commissioner
04:04
for Human Rights.
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