The National Committee for Investigation into the Suwayda events submitted its final report to Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais on Tuesday, March 17, during a press conference held at the Ministry of Information building in Damascus, attended by Enab Baladi.
Report: 1,760 casualties from all sides
The committee said the total number of casualties from all parties reached 1,760, with 2,188 injured.
Committee head, Judge Hatem al-Naasan, stated during the press conference that the violations were individual rather than systematic, based on testimonies from survivors.
He added that referring cases to the judiciary was not within the committee’s mandate. However, due to the sensitivity of the events, it was agreed with the Minister of Justice to ensure immediate accountability before the final report was issued. As a result, 23 security and military personnel involved in violations were detained and are now being publicly tried.
Committee spokesperson, lawyer Ammar Ezzedine, said the report is independent of the international investigation committee’s findings. It consists of 850 pages and aims solely to achieve justice for victims from all sides.
The committee noted that the support of the Minister of Justice contributed to completing its mission with independence and transparency. The report focused on fact-finding and on gathering information and evidence related to human rights violations in the Suwayda events (southern Syria), aiming to reach the truth and provide an impartial assessment.
The committee expressed appreciation to victims, witnesses, individuals, ministries, and government institutions that cooperated during its work, stressing that documenting these events is a necessary step toward justice, fairness, and sustainable peace.
It also emphasized the importance of implementing its recommendations to ensure accountability and prevent impunity, as well as to avoid future violations.
What about the missing?
Regarding missing persons, the committee said it could not determine a final number due to insufficient information and its inability to enter Suwayda city. It documented 60 missing persons from tribal communities in Suwayda and 30 from the Ministry of Defense.
Causes of tension
The committee attributed the tensions to the policies and practices of the Assad regime, which it said fueled divisions over the years, including facilitating the entry of Islamic State fighters into Suwayda and their attacks against the Druze community.
“Involvement of multiple parties”
According to the committee, between July 11 and 20, 2025, violence escalated between local communities, including Bedouins and Druze. Incidents included property confiscation, mutual kidnappings, assaults, and violations involving all sides.
It said the clashes prompted government intervention to restore order, but government forces faced armed confrontations and ambushes. Israeli airstrikes targeting government forces in the area and the General Staff in Damascus further escalated chaos and retaliatory violence.
“Serious human rights violations”
The committee concluded, based on testimonies, digital materials, documents, and field inspections, that the events in Suwayda in July 2025 resulted in serious human rights violations.
These included killings, including intentional killings, armed looting, destruction and burning of homes and shops, torture, sectarian insults, and incitement, in violation of Syrian penal and military laws and the anti-torture law.
The committee also monitored exchanges of abductees involving all parties. These included the release of 119 Druze individuals and 25 Bedouins, tribal members, and government personnel. However, others remain missing, including Syrian Civil Defense worker Hamza al-Amareen.
It documented the displacement of 27,404 Bedouins and 34,845 Druze and Christians due to clashes and, in some cases, forced displacement.
Displacement sites included 16 shelters in Daraa, 23 in Sayyida Zainab (Rural Damascus), and others in Zakia, Jaramana, and villages in Jabal al-Sheikh.
Suspects from defense and interior ministries
The committee said it compiled a list of suspects from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, Druze armed groups, and civilians, including Bedouins and tribal members.
It noted that it could not identify many individuals appearing in photos and videos on social media, including masked persons, and recommended referring these materials to the public prosecutor for further investigation.
Referral to the public prosecutor
The committee submitted its findings, along with investigation files and evidence, to the public prosecutor, stressing the need for continued national judicial investigations to determine responsibility.
It pointed out that despite strict instructions from defense and interior ministries to protect civilians, the widespread presence of weapons and multiple armed groups outside full state control increased violations and complicated efforts to restore stability.
Evidence indicates involvement of individuals from various groups, including irregular armed factions, Islamic State members, and individuals acting independently or within local groups.
It also confirmed evidence implicating members of government security and military forces, whose cases have been referred to the judiciary.
The committee added that army and public security forces attempted to prevent tribal fighters from entering Suwayda but failed due to their large numbers and the reluctance of some personnel after witnessing violations.
It also documented cases where security forces prevented tribes from reaching Suwayda and forced them to return after reaching Damascus.
Government authorities have taken initial steps to investigate the violations, including forming the committee that issued this report, detaining a number of individuals suspected of involvement, and referring them to the judiciary. The continuation of these measures in a transparent and independent manner represents a key step toward strengthening accountability and preventing impunity, according to the press conference.
Burning and looting
The committee reported that at least 36 villages in Suwayda countryside were burned or destroyed, including religious sites, by armed groups from nearby areas and outside the province, with motives of looting and revenge.
It also documented retaliatory attacks and violations by Druze armed groups targeting Bedouin communities in and around Suwayda city, leading to widespread displacement.
Recommendations
The committee recommended referring all individuals, whether civilians or government officials, against whom credible information suggests involvement in crimes, to the competent judiciary, and ensuring fair and transparent trials in line with international standards.
It also recommended strengthening the capacity of judicial bodies to investigate serious crimes, including those committed against civilians and grave human rights violations.
The committee further called for accelerating the implementation of government programs aimed at carrying out broad legislative and institutional reforms to enhance judicial independence and its ability to address serious crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.
It stressed the need to identify and protect potential mass grave sites, conduct the necessary forensic investigations in accordance with international standards, and preserve physical and digital evidence related to violations to ensure its use in future legal proceedings.
Addressing the root causes of violence in Suwayda (southern Syria) and across Syria, the committee said, requires a comprehensive approach that combines legal accountability, reform of security and judicial institutions, promotion of dialogue and community reconciliation, and tackling the economic and social challenges that fuel conflict.
It also called for urgent measures to enhance the protection of civilians in Suwayda, including strengthening the deployment of professionally trained regular security forces and taking effective steps to prevent acts of retaliation and intercommunal violence.
The committee recommended developing a comprehensive national plan to collect unlicensed weapons, restrict arms to state control, and dismantle criminal networks involved in kidnapping, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities.
It urged support for government efforts to enhance the professionalism and neutrality of security institutions, ensure they are subject to effective legal and institutional oversight, and adopt clear mechanisms for accountability and investigation into violations committed by their personnel.
The committee also called for effective legal and institutional measures to prevent the spread of hate speech and incitement to violence, including through media and social media platforms, as well as legislative, executive, and educational steps to curb incitement to violence, sedition, and sectarian tensions.
It recommended establishing a specialized committee to follow up on cases of missing and abducted persons during the events, tasked with documentation and communication with victims’ families.
The committee further called for supporting dialogue initiatives between different local communities in Suwayda and launching psychosocial support programs for victims and those affected by the violence.
It also stressed the importance of providing urgent humanitarian assistance to displaced and affected populations, supporting the rehabilitation of damaged homes and infrastructure, and developing compensation programs to redress harm in accordance with national laws and international standards.
The committee also urged the international community to condemn Israeli strikes on Syria and uphold relevant international charters and resolutions to prevent recurrence and any form of external interference in Syrian affairs.
It called on all external parties to respect the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and refrain from any military actions or interventions that could escalate tensions or complicate efforts to achieve stability in the region.
The committee concluded that implementing these recommendations requires sustained commitment from state institutions, alongside active participation from local communities and civil society organizations, as well as appropriate support from the international community, in a way that helps rebuild trust between citizens and state institutions and reinforces the principles of good governance and the rule of law.
What happened in Suwayda?
The crisis in Suwayda peaked in July 2025 when Syrian army forces attempted to enter the city, citing efforts to stop clashes between Druze residents, who form the majority, and Bedouin communities.
The intervention was accompanied by violations against residents of the city, particularly from the Druze community, triggering widespread clashes and Israeli involvement, as Israel claims to protect Druze communities in Syria.
Israeli strikes targeted Damascus and Syrian army positions, forcing government forces to withdraw from Suwayda city and reposition in western rural areas, where they took control of more than 30 villages.
However, the withdrawal did not end the crisis. Local factions carried out retaliatory attacks and violations against Bedouin residents, prompting tribal mobilization in support of Bedouins and prolonging the cycle of violence.
National committee submits final report on Suwayda events, what does it reveal? Enab Baladi.
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