The UN reports that entire families, including women and children, were killed in Syria during a military crackdown targeting Assad’s opponents. The killings, described as sectarian violence primarily affecting Alawite communities, have led to demands for an investigation into these atrocities. UN officials have documented 111 civilian deaths and urged for thorough accountability measures.
The United Nations has reported that entire families, including women and children, have been killed in Syria’s coastal region amid a military crackdown against insurgents supporting President Bashar al-Assad. These killings are characterized as sectarian violence executed by government forces. The UN Human Rights Office has faced increasing pressure to prompt an investigation into these atrocities following alarming reports from a war monitor indicating that hundreds of civilians have lost their lives, particularly in Alawite-majority areas.
U.N. spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan emphasized the gravitas of this situation, stating, “In a number of extremely disturbing instances, entire families – including women, children, and individuals hors de combat – were killed, with predominantly Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular.” The Office has documented the deaths of 111 civilians but anticipates that the actual number is likely much higher, noting that among those, 90 were men, 18 were women, and three were children.
Furthermore, Al-Kheetan highlighted the nature of these killings, describing many as summary executions driven by sectarian motivations. Reports mention occurrences where men were executed in front of their families, based on testimonials from survivors. In light of these alarming revelations, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has lauded the Syrian government’s initiative to form an accountability committee and has urged that the investigations be conducted in a prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial manner.
The UN’s report highlights severe human rights violations in Syria, where entire families have been targeted and killed amidst a military crackdown that is believed to be sectarian in nature. The urgency for investigation and accountability is paramount as the world watches the escalating violence and loss of civilian lives. Calls for impartial investigations into these atrocities underscore the need for justice and a cessation of such heinous acts.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
