A new report from the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC) reveals that over 1,000 Syrians perished at a military airport near Damascus, victims of execution, torture, and mistreatment. The report, due to be published Thursday, identifies seven suspected mass grave sites tied to the airport’s detention center, which was notorious for its role in the Assad regime’s system of enforced disappearances.
The investigation, which relied on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and post-Assad documents, highlights a pattern of abuse at the Mezzeh military airport and surrounding areas. While the findings have not been independently verified, satellite images reviewed by Reuters show disturbing signs of disturbed earth at several locations, which match witness accounts of the sites where bodies were buried.
Among the 156 survivors interviewed by SJAC was Shadi Haroun, a former detainee who endured months of physical and psychological torture between 2011 and 2012. Haroun described harrowing scenes, including the sound of gunshots that echoed through the prison, and the gruesome effects of untreated wounds that led to gangrene and amputation. He also recounted a fellow detainee’s ordeal, where a small injury to his foot caused by torture eventually required amputation.
Additionally, SJAC consulted eight former intelligence officers, shedding light on the roles of the Syria Air Force Intelligence in carrying out extrajudicial killings and imprisoning regime critics.
The discovery of these mass graves comes amid the ongoing search for those who vanished during the conflict, with estimates suggesting more than 100,000 Syrians remain unaccounted for since the civil war began in 2011.
In an exclusive comment to Reuters, a military official with the new Syrian government, Colonel Abu Baker, expressed little surprise at the findings, citing the long history of disappearances under the Assad regime. He added, “Discovering the fates of those missing persons and searching for more graves is one of the greatest legacies left by the Assad regime.”
The new findings only add to the growing body of evidence of widespread extrajudicial killings by the Assad government, a pattern of brutality that has left deep scars on Syria’s population.
Key Points:
- 1,000+ Deaths: Over 1,000 Syrians died in detention at Mezzeh military airport, victims of execution and torture.
- Mass Graves Identified: Seven suspected grave sites traced through satellite imagery, documents, and survivor testimony.
- Witness Accounts: Former detainees described brutal conditions, including torture and untreated injuries leading to death.
- Missing Persons: Over 100,000 Syrians are still missing, victims of enforced disappearances under the Assad regime.
As investigations into the fate of these victims continue, the search for justice remains a critical concern for Syria and the international community.
