UN investigators say violence in Syria’s Sweida province may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, with over 1,700 killed.

GENEVA: UN investigators have warned that brutal violence in Syria’s southern Sweida province last July may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Syria detailed a week of bloodshed that killed more than 1,700 people and displaced nearly 200,000.

The report documented widespread executions, torture, gender-based violence and the burning of homes in the Druze heartland.

Commissioner Fionnuala Ni Aolain said serious violations by government forces and Druze armed groups may constitute war crimes.

She urged further investigation into whether the attacks formed a widespread and systematic attack against Sweida’s civilian population.

The violence erupted from clashes between fighters from the Druze minority and Sunni Bedouin before rapidly escalating.

Government forces and fighters from other parts of Syria were drawn into the conflict.

The commission’s report, based on 409 first-hand accounts, described three overlapping waves of violence between July 14 and 19.

The first wave on July 14-16 saw government forces commit widespread violations against Druze civilians.

Men identified as Druze were separated from women and children and executed.

A second wave began on July 17 after government forces withdrew following Israeli airstrikes.

Druze armed groups then attacked Bedouin civilians, committing murder and torture.

In the third retaliatory wave, tribal fighters targeted Druze civilians, burning and looting up to 35 villages.

The commission noted that members of government forces removed uniforms to join these attacks.

It also highlighted how Israeli strikes fuelled instability and accusations of treason against Druze leaders.

Commission chair Paulo Pinheiro stated that expanded efforts to pursue accountability for all perpetrators are urgently needed.

The report called on Israel and other external actors to halt actions that could further destabilise the situation.

Almost all of the nearly 200,000 people displaced last July remain unable to return home.

 The Sun Malaysia