UN Inquiry Warns Renewed Violence Threatens Fragile Peace in Post-War Syria

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has sounded an alarm over a resurgence of brutal violence and human rights violations across Syria, warning that the fragile optimism following last year's fall of the former government is rapidly unraveling. The Commission's Chair, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, told the UN General Assembly in New York that without urgent international action, the country risks descending once again into widespread conflict.

A Fragile Hope Under Threat

After more than a decade of war that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, the fall of the former Syrian government last year had inspired cautious optimism both domestically and internationally. The establishment of a new Transitional Justice Authority and a National Authority on Missing Persons had been hailed as pivotal steps toward national reconciliation and accountability for victims.

Since December 2024, over one million refugees have returned home, many to devastated neighborhoods still lacking basic services. The interim authorities had granted the Commission unprecedented access to key regions, including Latakia, Tartus, Suweyda, and Hama, marking a new era of openness and engagement.

But that fragile progress is now overshadowed by a resurgence of massacres, sectarian killings, and widespread abuses, including acts allegedly perpetrated by elements within the interim government's own security forces. "Despite positive steps toward state-building, disturbing bouts of violence have tempered optimism about the interim authorities' ability to end Syria's entrenched cycles of conflict," Pinheiro said.

Massacres and Human Rights Violations

The Commission's latest report details a series of atrocities that have taken place in the first half of 2025. In March, at least 1,400 civilians, including women and children, were killed in coordinated attacks in Latakia, Tartus, and Hama. According to investigators, these massacres involved both loyalists of the ousted government and members of the interim security forces.

Videos circulating online show armed men executing Alawi civilians, while others boastfully filmed themselves walking past burning corpses in residential streets. "The Commission continues to receive reports of extra-judicial killings, torture, and forced displacement of Alawi civilians in Damascus and western governorates," Pinheiro reported, calling the incidents "deeply alarming indicators of an escalating sectarian undercurrent."

The attacks have not only reignited communal fears but also exposed fractures within the interim administration's command structures. Many observers fear that these violent reprisals could set back reconciliation efforts by years, if not decades.

Violence Against Women and Rising Insecurity

The Commission's investigation teams, during their July visit to Suweyda and surrounding rural areas, met with victims, survivors, and witnesses from across Syria's diverse communities. They recounted harrowing stories of killings, disappearances, and violence targeting Druze, Bedouin, and Alawi civilians alike.

Pinheiro expressed grave concern about growing violence and discrimination against women, including abductions, sexual violence, and forced marriages by unidentified armed groups. "Families report a complete lack of action by local authorities," he said, emphasizing that women and girls remain among the most vulnerable in the post-war environment.

Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating sharply as winter approaches, particularly for displaced populations in the south and coastal regions. The Commission warned that humanitarian appeals remain severely underfunded, leaving thousands without adequate shelter, medical care, or food supplies.

The Role of Hate Speech and Impunity

Pinheiro highlighted the toxic role of hate speech and online incitement, which he said is fueling fresh waves of communal hatred and reprisals. He cautioned that unaddressed grievances and perceived impunity could reignite full-scale conflict.

"Additional swift, concrete efforts are necessary to hold perpetrators accountable and rebuild trust between the state and impacted communities," he said. "The challenges facing the interim authorities are enormous and require the concerted attention, support, and resources of Member States."

The Commission urged Syria's interim government to combat hate speech, ensure fair trials, and strengthen local justice mechanisms to rebuild trust. It also called for stronger monitoring of digital spaces where extremist narratives continue to incite violence and revenge.

External Interference and Regional Escalation

In a particularly strong rebuke, the Commission condemned external interference in Syrian affairs, citing the forced displacement and arbitrary detention of civilians caused by Israel's military advance into southern Syria last December, as well as continued Israeli airstrikes throughout 2025. These interventions, the report warned, risk "further inflaming the conflict and inflicting even greater suffering on the Syrian people."

Tensions also remain high in northeast Syria, where clashes between rival factions were reported in Aleppo and near the Tishreen Dam in early October. The Commission cautioned that without coordinated de-escalation efforts, the violence could spread to areas that had remained relatively stable.

Building a Rights-Respecting Future

Pinheiro emphasized that the path forward must center on human rights, inclusivity, and accountability. "A safe, rights-respecting Syria—reflecting the diverse mosaic of the country's religious and ethnic communities—requires strong, inclusive, and effective state institutions, based on human rights and the rule of law," he said.

He urged Member States to support Syria's fragile transition not only through humanitarian aid but also by addressing root causes of violence, including discrimination, marginalization, and impunity. Concrete reforms—ranging from judicial independence to protection of minorities—must be prioritized to prevent a relapse into chaos.

A Roadmap for the Future

The Commission's latest report includes a detailed set of recommendations intended to guide both domestic and international actors. These include mechanisms for investigating war crimes, initiatives for community reconciliation, and frameworks for transitional justice and reparations. Encouragingly, Syria's interim foreign minister has reportedly endorsed the report as a "roadmap for national rebuilding."

Pinheiro concluded with a call for global solidarity and vigilance. "The future of Syria is in the balance," he said. "Actions taken now will set the foundation for decades to come. Turning away would risk undoing the fragile hope that Syrians have worked so hard to reclaim."