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Syria’s new rulers to probe attacks on civilians during recent violence
A Druze militiaman rides his motorcycle past a destroyed military vehicle following last week's sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority town of Sweida, Syria, July 25, 2025

SYRIA’S new authorities have set up a committee to investigate attacks on civilians following recent sectarian violence in the country’s south, officials said on Thursday.

The fighting in Sweida province in July killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.

It was sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed, mostly Sunni, Bedouin clans and fighters with the Druze religious minority — an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. The Syrian and Israeli governments intervened, apparently on the sides of the Bedouin and Druze respectively.

Syria’s Justice Ministry said the committee would work to uncover the “circumstances that led to the events in Sweida,” investigate attacks and refer those implicated in them to the judiciary, news agency Sana reported.

The committee, set up by the jihadist interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is to submit a final report within three months.

A similar committee was formed in March, when sectarian violence on Syria’s coast killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority.

That committee found there had been “widespread, serious violations against civilians,” including by members of Syria’s new security forces and that more than 1,400 people were killed.

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