International Community Urges Accountability After Human Rights Abuses in Syria.

Photo by WilliamCho on Pixabay.com 

Syrian government forces are accused of having committed human rights abuses last year. A recent report demonstrated that many people were displaced, abducted, or even killed. International institutions are calling for governmental accountability.

A recent report published by Human Rights Watches highlighted that Syrian military forces, along with local Bedouin and Druze militias, are responsible for grave human rights violations that occurred in the country’s southern Sweida Governorate. According to witnesses, Bedouin armed groups took part in abductions and looting, while government security forces carried out summary executions and destroyed private property. In addition, civilians were assaulted and imprisoned by Druze armed groups. According to Human Rights Watch, 86 were unlawfully killed. 

The human rights violations came after several days of armed clashes. These erupted after an escalation at a checkpoint involving Bedouin and Druze armed groups on July 12 in the Sweida governorate. Two days later, government security forces assaulted Druze positions in support of Bedouin militias. Hundreds of civilians were killed, and the overall situation quickly deteriorated. Hospitals were overwhelmed and lacked personnel, equipment, and electricity. Severe shortages of food, shelter, and medication also emerged as a result of the fighting, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimating that over 93,000 people were displaced within a week of the clashes and 187,000 by the end of July.

The majority of people in the Sweida governorate are of Druze ethnicity, with a Bedouin minority. Although these communities have lived together for a long time, government intervention further contributed to escalating tensions in the region. According to Human Rights Watches’ report, Syria’s interim government has not done enough to objectively look into abuses committed by all sides during the conflict. For instance, a Government Body was given a three-month mandate to conduct an in-depth investigation into the matter.

However, in November 2025, it was requested a two-month extension, and as of today the investigation has not been concluded. In addition, strict government limits on access made it difficult for civilians to receive humanitarian aid. According to an aid worker, numerous people remain missing or are being held hostage, and their families have not been informed of their location or health conditions.

In the past, military forces operating under Syria’s transitional government have been linked to serious violations against minority groups, most notably Alawi Syrians in March 2025. Because there was no proof of direct orders to commit abuses, government investigations into the alleged crimes cleared high-ranking officials. However, commanders and senior officials may still be held criminally accountable if they knew about abuses committed by their subordinates.

The international community strongly denounced the situation last year, and called for accountability from Syrian authorities. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated that “there must be independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations, and those responsible must be held to account, in accordance with international standards. Incitement to violence and hate speech, both online and offline, must also be stopped."

In light of the recent report published by Human Rights Watch, Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director, commented that “The Syrian authorities need to demonstrate they are a government for all Syrians by pursuing accountability for atrocities in Sweida at the highest levels and for all involved parties”. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen remarked that transitional justice, security sector reform, and inclusive political reform are essential to achieving lasting peace in Syria.

written by Ludovica Muncibì