Daramsuq sparks controversy by claiming UN report aligns with Syrian Government’s findings on coastal massacres

DARAMSUQ (DAMASCUS) — A statement by Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad al-Shaibani, has stirred significant controversy after he claimed that the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry into the March massacres on the Syrian coast “aligns” with the findings of his own Syrian National Inquiry committee. 

However, a close review of the UN report, released this week, exposes significant contrasts with the account provided by the National Inquiry, which released merely a summary of its findings. According to the UN investigation, the massacres included murder, torture and inhumane acts related to the treatment of the dead, widespread looting and burning of homes all of which displaced tens of thousands of civilians. “These were perpetrated by members of the interim government’s forces and private individuals operating alongside or in proximity to them, as well as by pro-former government fighters or so-called “remnants.” The violations included acts that likely amount to war crimes” and, the UN Commission of Inquiry continued: “In a disturbing pattern of killings documented across multiple locations, men were first identified as belonging to the Alawi sect and then separated from the women and children before being led outside to be shot and killed.”

New report by @UN Syria Commission of Inquiry (@UNCoISyria) finds that March violence in #Syria‘s coastal areas – which primarily targeted Alawi communities – was widespread and systematic, and likely amounts to war crimes.

More ➡️https://t.co/s90SpQCj4g pic.twitter.com/eVGRRzcyaF

— UN Human Rights Council Investigative Bodies (@uninvhrc) August 14, 2025

The UN Commission documented consistent patterns of violence against the civilian population in multiple locations, which included targeting based on religious affiliation, age and gender, and collective executions, whereas the Syrian committee’s investigation rejected the notion of any organized pattern, instead describing the incidents as “chaotic and partly motivated by revenge.” These differences clearly challenge any assertion that the two reports are in alignment. 

The UN directly attributed responsibility to three military units of the newly formed Syrian Army: 

• Division 62, Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade – led by Mohammad Al-Jassem (“Abu Amsha”) 

• Division 76, Hamza Brigade – led by Saif Bolad (“Saif Abu Bakr”) 

• Division 400, composed of former factions of the dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham – led by Mohammad Khair Hasan Shuaib (“Abu Khair Taftiz”), who also serves as Deputy Defense Minister. 

In contrast, the National Inquiry placed blame on “remnants of Assad forces” and “unknown external members,” without naming these units. Observers suggest this wording may be a deliberate attempt to shield current military leadership from public scrutiny or legal accountability. 

Despite al-Shaibani’s assertion that the National Inquiry’s findings were presented “transparently” at a press conference, only a condensed summary was released, insufficient for legal experts to evaluate the evidence or methodology. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani sends a letter of acknowledgment and appreciation to Mr Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, commending the Commission’s efforts in preparing the… pic.twitter.com/mFRytpCd1J

— وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية (@syrianmofaex) August 14, 2025

The UN report itself explicitly recommended the publication of the full national report: “We urge the prompt release of their full report, implementation of the recommendations, and a commitment to move quickly with reform of the judiciary to advance human rights compliant trials for all accused.”

Further raising doubts, the National Inquiry’s head, Yasser al-Farhan, made contradictory statements, claiming that the state “provided the committee with all information on suspects,” while simultaneously asserting that the government had no prior knowledge of their identities before the report was submitted. This inconsistency has fueled serious questions about the committee’s independence and potential state interference. 

Interestingly, some Western countries, including the UK and Germany, issued statements suggesting that the National Inquiry’s results “align” with the UN report. Critics argue that these governments may not have fully examined the UN report and instead relied on secondary interpretations. 

For many Syrians, this issue goes beyond a technical debate over reports; it is a struggle over narrative and historical record. Will these massacres be recognized as systematic crimes warranting accountability, or will they be dismissed as chaotic incidents with no clear responsibility? At present, uncertainty prevails. The full National Inquiry remains unpublished, and clear discrepancies with the UN inquiry continue to cast doubt on the provisional government’s commitment to transitional justice.

This is a shameless attempt to deceive the public by twisting facts and ignoring key findings in the UN Commission of Inquiry’s report on Syria’s coastal massacres in March.

Syria’s Foreign Minister publicizes a highly misleading formal response that claims the UN’s findings… https://t.co/EZvBcHKQlB

— Rami Jarrah (@RamiJarrah) August 14, 2025