A mass grave potentially holding the remains of thousands has been discovered near Syria’s capital, Damascus, as the country’s new interim government vows to hold accountable those responsible for atrocities committed under the regime of ousted President, Bashar al-Assad.
The site, located in al-Qutayfah, north of Damascus, is one of several mass graves uncovered across the country and in southern Syria, 12 additional mass graves were identified, including one where 22 bodies, among them women and children, showed evidence of execution and torture.
Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled until his death in 2000, have long been accused of widespread atrocities, including extrajudicial killings and systemic abuse within Syria’s infamous prison network.
Foreign news agencies allege that Syria’s air force intelligence was responsible for transporting bodies from hospitals—where victims reportedly died in custody—to these mass burial sites.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, commander-in-chief of the new administration, told that individuals responsible for crimes against the Syrian people, as well as those who enabled such actions under Assad’s rule, would face justice.