Human remains found at mass grave site in Tadamun neigbourhood in Syrian capital

Human remains have been found at a site believed to be a mass grave in the Tadamun area of Damascus, where a notorious massacre by Assad regime forces took place in 2013.

A source in the Syrian Civil Defence told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the presence of human remains had been confirmed near Daabul Street in Tadamun.

Civil Defence teams are continuing search operations at the location.

Based on testimony from residents of Tadamun following the recent discovery, the source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the site was likely part of a series of mass graves in which victims of massacres committed by Assad regime forces buried during the war years.

The Assad regime kept no record of such sites and new mass graves are frequently discovered in Syria. Up to 288 people were killed in the 2013 massacre in Tadmon

The National Commission for Missing Persons in Syria announce on Wednesday that it had responded to a report concerning the mass grave. It said that its efforts in this regard was part of its ongoing work to determine the fate of disappeared people and to protect the rights of victims and their families.

In a statement published on its official Facebook page and Telegram channel, the commission said its teams, in coordination with relevant authorities and Syrian Civil Defence teams, had begun the necessary procedures to secure and protect the discovered site.

The measures aim to preserve the remains and prevent any potential tampering, while fully adhering to safety standards and chain of custody requirements applied in such cases.

The commission said its response comes as part of a broader national and humanitarian effort to determine the fate of tens of thousands of missing people in the country and ensure responsible handling of mass grave sites, given their critical importance in the pursuit of truth and justice.

It warned against any unauthorised intervention at confirmed or suspected sites, urging local residents not to approach or disturb such sites under any circumstances and called for the immediate reporting of any information or suspicions through approved official channels.

It said this was necessary to help protect evidence and ensure that documentation and investigation proceed professionally and responsibly.

Details about the 2013 Tadamun massacre were revealed in 2022 following a lengthy investigation by journalists and human rights groups. 

They documented the field execution of dozens of civilians and their burial in mass graves, in one of the most brutal crimes recorded on video in Syria.