Official UN Security Council records

12 Mass Graves in Daraa and Al-Qutayfah, Syria May Hold 100,000 Bodies of Assad's Victims

Dec 17, 2024, 01:46 PM

Recent discoveries in Syria have revealed multiple mass graves believed to contain the remains of at least 100,000 individuals, many of whom are thought to have been killed under the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Reports indicate that over 12 mass graves were uncovered in the southern governorate of Daraa, alongside another significant grave located near Al-Qutayfah, approximately 25 miles northeast of Damascus. Mouaz Moustafa, head of the U.S.-based Syrian Emergency Task Force, stated that these graves likely hold the bodies of civilians, including women and children, who were victims of the Assad regime's brutal tactics. Local sources suggest that the total number of bodies could be much higher, reflecting the extensive human rights abuses committed during the conflict. The findings come in the wake of the recent collapse of the Baath regime, prompting search operations across the country for similar burial sites. The situation has drawn international attention, highlighting the ongoing need for accountability and justice for the victims of the Syrian civil war.