Agents of the new Syrian security forces leaving the city of Idlib, in the northwest of the country, to reinforce the coastal area, on March 8, 2025. (Credit: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has issued a decree establishing an "independent" commission tasked with investigating the deadly events that have occurred in Western Syria since "March 6." The commission is composed of five judges, an army officer and a lawyer. Most are former members of the Syrian Constitutional Committee based in Geneva. Its mission is to investigate the factors leading to this outbreak of violence, the abuses against civilians and the attacks on institutions and state agents.
The five judges are Jomaa al-Anzi, Khaled Helou, Ali Naassan, Alaeddine Youssef and Hanadi Abou Arab. The officer is Awad al-Ali and the lawyer is Yasser Farhan.
All public administrations and institutions are required to cooperate with the commission, which will have the authority to summon any person who might assist in its mission. It will submit its report to the presidency within 30 days, according to the decree.
Clashes on the Syrian coast between militias loyal to the former regime of Bashar al-Assad and the new Syrian security forces have resulted in over 1,000 deaths, including many Alawite and Christian civilians who were victims of abuses, according to several consistent reports.
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