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International Investigation Committee on Syria Begins Work in Sweida
The international investigation committee has started its field operations in Sweida province over the past few days, aiming to gather evidence and analyze the facts related to violations and crimes witnessed in the area during the aggression by the temporary government forces in mid-July.
In its initial movements, the committee visited the destroyed and depopulated villages in the western countryside, located in areas where government forces are positioned. It then headed to the city center, where it visited the Spiritual Authority Department in Qanawat and met with Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hajri. The committee also toured the national hospital and met with several witnesses, according to "Sweida 24" sources.
In another development, lawyer Ayman Shibeidene confirmed via his Facebook page that the committee consists of specialized teams in criminal, documentation, political, and military fields. He added that its mission is not bound by a specific timeframe, and it will continue moving across regions, receiving testimonies, and collecting evidence according to its plan and field operation conditions, while adhering to local authorities' directives.
Shibeidene pointed out that the committee has received a detailed briefing on the political, social, and security situation in the country since Ahmad al-Shir’s ascension to power, including the wave of sectarian incitement preceding the massacres. He reaffirmed that the committee’s official report is expected to be issued in January 2026.
The committee emphasized that its primary goal is "to accurately collect and analyze field information," focusing on listening to victims and perpetrators to enhance transparency and provide an unbiased database to facilitate accountability processes. Last month, the committee chairman, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, presented this objective to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
In related news, religious and political figures in Sweida strongly rejected the entry of the investigation committee formed by the Syrian transitional authority, considering the government a key party in what happened. However, they expressed their willingness to cooperate with the committee and facilitate its work.
On the international front, Jordan hosted a trilateral meeting on August 12, 2025, bringing together Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, his Syrian counterpart Asaad Shbeibani, and U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Brake. During the meeting, a joint statement titled "Roadmap for Solving the Sweida Crisis" was issued, calling for comprehensive international investigations to hold perpetrators of violations accountable.
Source: Sweida 24
