A report by the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria stated that war crimes were likely committed by Syrian government forces and militants loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad during sectarian violence in the Syrian coast, peaking in a series of killings in March. However, the commission clarified that it found no evidence of any government policy or directives to carry out such attacks. The report noted that about 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed during violence primarily targeting the Alawite sect. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, head of the commission, said, “The scale and brutality of the violence documented in our report are extremely concerning.” The report was based on interviews with over 200 victims and witnesses and visits to three mass graves. U.S.

Special Envoy Tom Barrack welcomed the report, describing it as a “serious step” toward assessing accountability for violations and stressed the importance of achieving justice for a unified Syria.