UN Commission of Inquiry Report on Sweida: Crimes Against Humanity Attributed to Syrian Government Forces
The report documents systematic crimes and grave human rights violations in the province of Sweida during July 2025, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,707 people and the displacement of approximately 200,000 individuals from their homes.
The findings are based on 409 direct testimonies and field visits that revealed widespread destruction, particularly in Druze villages, where tens of thousands of homes, shops, and places of worship were burned.
Victims
The vast majority of victims were from the Druze community:
- 1,190 men, 99 women, 22 boys, and 31 girls from the Druze community
- 53 men, 9 women, 5 boys, and 3 girls from the Bedouin community
- At least 225 members of the transitional government forces were killed, many as a result of Israeli airstrikes between 14 and 16 July in Sweida and Damascus
- At least 100 Druze individuals remain missing following the ceasefire on 19 July
Three Waves of Violence
First wave — 14–16 July
Transitional government forces and tribal fighters carried out widespread violations against Druze civilians, including killings, torture, arbitrary detention, and looting.
Second wave — 17 July
Following the withdrawal of government forces after Israeli airstrikes, armed Druze groups launched attacks on Bedouin neighborhoods, involving killings and abductions, and resulting in the near-total displacement of Bedouin السكان.
Third wave — 17–19 July
Approximately 80,000 tribal fighters from across Syria were mobilized to launch renewed attacks on Druze communities, leading to the burning and looting of around 35 villages, as well as killings and kidnappings. Some government personnel reportedly took part in these attacks after removing their military uniforms.
Destruction of Property and Cultural Heritage
- 35 villages in northern and western Sweida were destroyed, burned, and looted by tribal fighters
- 82 Druze shrines and religious sites were desecrated and demolished, in clear violation of international conventions protecting places of worship
- Tens of thousands of homes, shops, and economic facilities were burned
Displacement and Demographic Impact
- 155,000 Druze were displaced, threatening long-term demographic change in the region
- The total number of displaced persons reached approximately 200,000
Crimes Against Women and Girls
- Cases of rape and sexual violence were documented, committed by government and tribal attacking forces, used as a tool of intimidation against Druze women
- Violations included forced stripping, humiliation, killings, and sectarian and sexual threats
Detention, Enforced Disappearance, and Torture
- Detained Druze individuals were subjected to deliberate humiliation, including forced shaving of mustaches, beatings, and sectarian insults aimed at undermining religious and social identity
- Dozens of civilians were held in official detention facilities such as Adra Prison without charges
- Extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and the burning and looting of property in government-controlled areas were documented
Government Responsibility
The report concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that government forces committed acts amounting to crimes against humanity, particularly intentional killing, torture, and persecution on sectarian grounds.
- Government forces provided logistical support and facilitated the movement of tribal fighters, and in some cases fought alongside them
- The Syrian government failed to fulfill its international obligation to protect its citizens, acting as an “active participant and instigator” in the violations, exposing military and security leaders to potential international criminal accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity
- Some perpetrators operated within an organized chain of command, with fighters seeking instructions from their commanders while detaining civilians
Incitement and the Role of Social Media
The report holds social media platforms and inciting actors significantly responsible for the systematic distortion of the Druze community’s image, contributing to the environment that enabled tribal fighters to commit atrocities.
Hate speech against Druze escalated sharply since April, following the circulation of an offensive recording falsely attributed to a Druze الشيخ—an allegation later proven false—triggering widespread threats and intimidation that extended even to university campuses.
Accountability and Justice
The report emphasizes that the lack of accountability for past crimes in Syria directly contributed to the commission of these atrocities in Sweida.
It calls for referring cases to international courts to ensure that military and field commanders do not escape justice.
The documented violations are assessed as amounting to war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.
