The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned of escalating violence in Syria in a statement on Sunday, urging an immediate end to the killing of civilians in the coastal areas of northwest Syria.
He stated:
Following a series of coordinated attacks reportedly launched by elements of the former government and other local armed men, we are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children, and hors de combat fighters, being killed.
Additionally, Türk reports other summary executions have been carried out by unidentified perpetrators, members of the caretaker authorities’ security forces, and individuals linked to the former government.
Türk called on the caretaker authorities to carry out “prompt, transparent and impartial investigations,” and to hold those responsible for the killings, and other violations accountable in accordance with international law. In his concluding remarks, he emphasized the nationally-led and inclusive transitional justice process focused on truth, justice, and accountability.
This follows the UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s first-ever visit to Syria in January. During the visit, he spoke with the victims, and civil society groups, and met with the caretaker leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, to discuss the opportunities and challenges for new Syria.
The latest outbreak of violence in Syria began when the caretaker authorities’ security forces in the coastal region were attacked by fighters aligned with the ousted Assad regime. This marks the worst unrest since Bashar al-Assad was toppled from power, as the death toll since the attacks began on March 6 has risen to 1,454.