The latest press conference by the government-led committee investigating the July events in Suwayda, southern Syria, sparked mixed reactions. Observers said the session fell short of delivering expected results, focusing instead on the legal and methodological framework without addressing key questions related to military decision-making and operational risks.
Journalist Ahed Murad told +963: “It was expected that the investigation committee would identify senior responsibilities clearly and ask: Who made the operational decisions? How were the risks assessed? Instead, these essential questions were completely ignored.”
Extension of Committee Work and Ongoing Investigations
Yesterday, the committee announced a two-month extension to complete its investigation and move toward final conclusions regarding the July events.
Chairman Hatem Al-Nassan said during a Damascus press conference that the committee collected and preserved evidence “to ensure its integrity in court,” documenting over 800 witness statements and 900 forms for victims and their families.
Al-Nassan added that the committee helped release kidnapped individuals in coordination with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and that personnel involved in violations were referred to the relevant authorities.
The committee also received statements via social media at the request of families, and consulted with local elders, influencers, religious leaders, and activists. The committee also analysed forensic reports and digital evidence, including videos shared on social platforms.
Regarding foreign fighters, Al-Nassan confirmed no foreign combatants were involved except in isolated cases and emphasized strict Defense Ministry orders prohibiting their participation.
He noted difficulties accessing all sites, which prompted the extension, but stressed the committee faced no pressure and received full cooperation from the Ministries of Defense and Interior. Several individuals who sparked controversy on social media were also detained.
Read also: EU-Sanctioned Militia Fighter Details Foreign Role, Sectarian Killings in Suwayda
Committee Promises Evidence-Based Results
Spokesperson Amar Ezzedine said the final report will be published publicly with supporting evidence. He stressed the committee’s independence “despite being formed by the Ministry of Justice” and noted it can collect evidence “even without on-site presence” according to international standards.
Ezzedine added that the committee respects victims’ rights and works within national sovereignty, asserting the report’s professionalism is “comparable to any international committee.”
Leadership Accountability Ignored
Murad criticized the focus on lower-level operatives, calling it “a smokescreen” and “a scapegoating attempt,” while ignoring the administrative and legal responsibilities of senior military leadership, including figures like the interim president Al-Sharaa, the minister of interior Khattab, and the head of internal security Al-Dalati.
He questioned: “Did the government expect that a military campaign led by a poorly uniformed army with inconsistent equipment would proceed without violations? Or did it anticipate massacres, intending to subjugate by force even at the cost of mass casualties?”
Related: Over 1,300 Killed or Injured in Syria’s Suwayda
Background of Suwayda Events
In mid-July, military operations in Druze-majority city of Suwayda led to hundreds of deaths and injuries, displacement of hundreds of thousands, and numerous kidnappings, mostly targeting women. Significant property damage was also reported.
The committee’s final report is expected within the extended two-month period amid continued debate between official accounts and criticisms from civil society and media over the real responsibilities for the events.
