UN Report Finds Widespread and Systematic Violence Against Syrian Civilians

The United Nations has released a report examining the sectarian violence in Syrian coastal communities in March, where over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed. The report found that members of government forces and allied groups committed "widespread and systematic" violence against civilians, including raiding houses in Alawite-majority areas and singling out Alawite men for killing. The commission also found that members of Turkish-backed rebel factions, now part of the new Syrian army, likely participated in the attacks on civilians.

Key Takeaways:

• The report by the U.N.'s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria examined the bloodshed in Syrian coastal communities and found that members of government forces and allied groups committed "widespread and systematic" violence against civilians.
• Around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the violence, according to the report, with the death toll largely consistent with the government's own figures and those of monitoring groups.
• The commission found no evidence that Syria's central government directed its forces to commit the violations, and the government has denied accusations of ordering attacks on civilians.
• The report also found that members of Turkish-backed rebel factions, now part of the new Syrian army, likely participated in the attacks on civilians, as well as former members of the rebel group led by President Ahmed al-Shara, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
• The commission determined that there was no evidence that Syria's new central government had a "policy or plan" to target Alawites.
• At least 37 people have been arrested by the government for their involvement in attacks against civilians, according to the head of the government's fact-finding committee on the violence.

Statistics:

• Around 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the violence.
• At least 37 people were arrested by the government for their involvement in attacks against civilians.
• Thousands of Druse and Bedouin civilians have been displaced due to sectarian violence in southern Sweida Province.
• Over 1,000 people were killed in the violence in the south, mostly fighters and civilians from the Druse minority.

Sources:

• "UN Report Finds Widespread and Systematic Violence Against Syrian Civilians." The New York Times, [no date mentioned in the article].
• The U.N.'s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria.