Syrian Human Rights Watch: Militias Close to the Government Executed 35 People in Three Days

The Syrian Human Rights Watch has reported that militias affiliated with the new government of Syria executed 35 people without trial over three days, most of whom were army officers during Bashar al-Assad's regime. Simultaneously, the new Syrian government announced, without providing further details, that several individuals were arrested in Homs province, located in the west of the country, due to 'violations of laws.' SANA, the official Syrian news agency now operating under the new government, reported that government officials accused members of 'a criminal group posing as security agents' of abusing the security cleansing operations in the region and violating the rights of people in Homs province. The Syrian Human Rights Watch, based in Britain, reported on Sunday, February 7, that these arrests occurred 'following gross violations of laws and the summary execution without trial of at least 35 people within three days.' This organization added that religious minorities have also been 'harassed and humiliated' in these incidents. The names of 'six foreign jihadists' appear on the list of senior commanders of the new Syrian army. The Syrian Human Rights Watch stated that most of the executed were officers from the army during Bashar al-Assad's regime who had surrendered themselves to the new government's security centers. The organization further noted that 'dozens of local armed militia members under the control of the Sunni coalition government who participated in the security cleansing operations in the Homs area have been arrested.' The statement emphasized that these local armed groups have also carried out 'revenge actions against the Alawite minority, which is seen by some as a support base for Bashar al-Assad's regime. These groups are using the prevailing chaos in Syria and their connections with the new government leaders to settle old scores.' The organization highlighted gross human rights violations in the Homs area, including 'widespread arbitrary and illegal arrests, brutal harassment, attacks on religious sites and institutions, dismemberment of corpses, and summary and ruthless executions of civilians,' adding that 'the combination of these cases indicates an unprecedented level of violence and brutality.' A non-governmental organization called 'Civil Peace Group' also reported that several residents of villages in the Homs area were killed during the so-called security cleansing operations. This group condemned 'unjustifiable violence, including the killing of unarmed men.' Since seizing power and overthrowing Bashar al-Assad's regime, the new Syrian government has attempted to assure ethnic and religious minorities that their rights and security will be protected. However, Alawites have repeatedly expressed their concerns about potential revenge against this minority due to the crimes of the Assad regime over decades of rule in Syria.