The investigation committee has revealed the progress of its investigations about 20 days after the outbreak of clashes between remnants of the Assad regime and the Syrian army.

The spokesperson for the fact-finding committee regarding the coastal events, Yasser al-Farhan, stated during a press conference attended by Enab Baladi today, Tuesday, March 25, that the committee inspected nine sites and heard testimonies from security, military, and civilian authorities in Latakia.

The committee recorded 95 statements according to legal standards concerning the events, and received more than 30 reports about the events in the Syrian coast. Al-Farhan noted that armed remnants of the Assad regime were present in the areas surrounding the committee’s operations.

He added, “The committee entered all regions that witnessed the events, and we want to continue our work by listening to witnesses and observing the reality on the ground,” indicating that the committee plans to move on to Tartus, Baniyas, Hama, and Idlib to continue its fact-finding efforts.

Al-Farhan confirmed that the fact-finding committee met with representatives of civil society and international bodies, pointing out that the meetings with United Nations parties were very positive and the international organization welcomed the formation of the committee and its work.

Al-Farhan suggested the establishment of a special court to pursue those involved in the coastal events, emphasizing that “there is difficulty in completing our task within 30 days, and we may request an extension.”

The spokesperson for the fact-finding committee continued, “Our circumstances are not ideal, and we need cooperation from everyone to uncover the truth, and it is still early to disclose the results of the investigations,” indicating that moving in the areas where the events took place remains dangerous, and some witnesses and relatives of the victims are hesitant to contact the committee.

On March 9, the transitional Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formed a committee composed of five judges, an officer, and a lawyer to investigate after the violent events that resulted from pursuing elements of the previous regime, who attempted to take control of vast areas in the coastal cities of western Syria.

According to a statement from the presidency, the committee’s tasks include several matters:

• Uncovering the causes, circumstances, and factors that led to the occurrence of these events.
• Investigating the violations against civilians and identifying those responsible.
• Investigating attacks on public institutions and security and army personnel and identifying those responsible.
• Also, referring anyone found involved in committing crimes and violations to justice.

All concerned government bodies are required to cooperate with the committee as necessary to complete its tasks, and the committee has the right to seek assistance from anyone it deems suitable for performing its duties. It must submit its report to the presidency within a maximum of 30 days from the date of the decision.

The coastal events began on March 6 and resulted in casualties among the General Security Forces and violations against civilians by the “remnants of the Assad regime” and security elements and factions loyal to the Syrian state, as well as the destruction and theft of public and private property.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) documented the killing of 803 individuals in the period between March 6 and 8 in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, and Hama.

According to the network, local factions and foreign Islamic groups that are “formally” affiliated with the Ministry of Defense played a significant role in committing violations, most of which had a retaliatory and sectarian nature.