What's New
A mass grave was discovered on Wednesday in Damascus' Sayyida Zeinab suburb, the Syrian Civil Defense group, known as the White Helmets, said.
At least 21 corpses and incomplete human remains were found at a site previously used by Hezbollah and Iran-backed militias. It marks one of the most significant finds of its kind since Syria's 13-plus-year civil war ended on December 8 when a 10-day offensive by rebel forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Why It Matters
The discovery highlights the ongoing toll of Assad's rule, which displaced millions and left vast areas in ruins. The Sayyida Zeinab area, often targeted during the war, was a stronghold for Hezbollah and other militias allied with his regime. Iran and Hezbollah provided crucial support to Assad, bolstering his forces in exchange for strategic control over key regions.
"Damascus has become a mass grave," said Ammar al-Salmo, an official with the White Helmets, a volunteer organization that operated in areas previously controlled by the opposition.
What To Know
The mass grave was in a predominantly Shia neighborhood near the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, a major religious site for Shia Muslims. According to al-Salmo, the site included a morgue, a field kitchen and a drugstore, indicating its use as a militia hub during the conflict.
The remains were extracted by teams in hazmat suits and placed in black bags for further examination.
The Sayyida Zeinab shrine, believed to house the grave of Zaynab bint Ali, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, has been a focal point for religious pilgrims. However, its proximity to militia operations made it a target during Syria's civil war, including bombings claimed by Sunni extremist groups like the Islamic State.
While the exact number of victims in the grave remains unknown, incomplete remains and small bone fragments suggest the use of explosive devices or other brutal methods.
The area continues to grapple with instability even after Assad's ousting.
Reports of war-related graves in Damascus and other parts of Syria continue to emerge, pointing to the war's devastating and long-lasting impact.
What People Are Saying
Ammar al-Salmo, a White Helmets official, said: "Some [of the remains] are skeletons, others are incomplete, and there are bags of small bones. We cannot yet determine the number of victims, but this is evidence of systematic violence."
Stephen Rapp, former U.S. war crimes ambassador, told Reuters: "We certainly have more than 100,000 people that disappeared into and tortured to death in this machine. I don't have much doubt about those kinds of numbers given what we've seen in these mass graves [...] We really haven't seen anything quite like this since the Nazis."
Ismael Abdullah, a rescuer working across Syria, told the BBC: "Thousands of people are missing. It is going to take––a lot of it––to get anywhere near the truth about what happened to them."
What Happens Next
Efforts are underway to identify the remains, but challenges loom because of the state of the findings and Syria's fractured infrastructure. The White Helmets and other humanitarian groups are working to ensure proper burial and to notify families of the victims.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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