Discovery of Three Mass Graves in Homs Countryside: By the "Nusur al-Zawba’a" Militia
April 20, 2025, 11:44 am

Discovery of Three Mass Graves in Homs Countryside: By the

نسور الزوبعة

Documentation and human rights teams have revealed three mass graves in the western Homs countryside, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the entry of investigative teams into areas that were under the control of the regime and its militias. These graves were found near former checkpoints of the "Nusur al-Zawba’a" militia, the military wing of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which is known for its dark record in violating the rights of civilians.

The details of the discovery included the existence of two graves in the Al-Baqi'a area near Talkalakh, where bodies were placed in pits designated for sewage. A third grave was found in the town of Qalaat al-Hosn, within an "artificial pit" next to an old water reservoir. The number of victims reached 48 bodies, including five children and one woman believed to be members of the same family who were executed in the field. The area had witnessed systematic violations, including enforced disappearance and arbitrary arrests, particularly between 2012 and 2015, during the control of "Nusur al-Zawba’a" and the regime's security apparatuses.

Among the accused officials, one of the most prominent leaders of "Nusur al-Zawba’a" in that area is Ziyad Masouh, who was temporarily detained following the discovery of the graves but was later released without any significant investigation. George Sleem, a checkpoint leader in Qalaat al-Hosn, is also considered one of the accused, although he has not yet been investigated despite his name appearing in victim testimonies. Nihad Samhan, one of the well-known field leaders, is also among those implicated.

Interestingly, all of these leaders continue to live in their homes among the families of the victims, with no accountability or investigation, as if nothing had happened. As for the militia, "Nusur al-Zawba’a" was a large militia comprising about 7,000 members, including women, and was known for its high readiness and spread across various areas of Syria, particularly in the western Homs countryside.

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