ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A seven-member Syrian investigation committee will conduct an on-the-ground probe into the deadly violence that erupted in coastal areas west of Syria, expressing openness to international cooperation while emphasizing its independence.
Yassir al-Farhan, the spokesperson for the committee, stated Tuesday that its members will be “present on the ground and will listen to eyewitnesses,” adding that it is “open to international cooperation, but prefers to benefit from national capabilities.”
Recent violence broke out in the Alawite-majority coastal areas of western Syria after loyalists of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on Thursday launched attacks on security forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Monday reported that around 1,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the violence. At least 973 of those killed are civilians, many of whom are from the Alawite community to which Assad belongs, the UK-based war monitor reported. Most of the casualties were caused by government or government-affiliated forces.
At the heels of the deadly violence, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday ordered the formation of an “independent national committee” to "identify the causes, circumstances, and details” behind the deadly clashes. The committee is expected to submit “its report to the presidency within a maximum of 30 days,” according to a Sunday statement by the Syrian presidency.
Sharaa also pledged to form another high-level committee to “preserve civil peace” and engage with the people in the affected areas.
For his part, Farhan on Tuesday emphasized the committee’s “independence and impartiality,” noting that the committee is developing a witnesses interview program. He clarified that the committee “will not disclose the results of its investigations,” but will submit its findings to the Syrian judiciary while ensuring witness privacy.
A cautious calm currently prevails in western Syria while the Syrian defense ministry on Monday reported that its forces had pushed the “remnants of the former regime” out of central coastal provinces such as Latakia and Tartous and declared victory in their military operations.
The Damascus leadership’s push to investigate the violent events in western Syria comes amid growing international calls for accountability and increased scrutiny over the new Syrian leadership’s treatment of ethnic and religious minorities.
