Syria forms committee to investigate violence in Druze heartland

Syria's justice ministry announced on Thursday the formation of a committee to investigate deadly violence in the southern Druze-majority province of Suweida.

In a decree issued Thursday, the justice ministry said it sought to shed light on "the circumstances and conditions that led to the events", investigate "attacks and violations against citizens" and refer any culprits to the judiciary.

A seven-member committee, including four judges, two lawyers and a brigadier general, would present its findings within three months, the decree said.

Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais said the committee was formed to "bring those involved to justice".

Wais expressed his hope that the investigation "will lead to the preservation of the rights of all citizens... and the protection of national unity and civil peace".

The violence in Suweida had initially pitted local Druze fighters against Bedouin tribes, but rapidly escalated and saw the involvement of Syrian government forces as well as Israel, which has claimed it was acting to protect the Druze minority.

Authorities said Syrian government forces had intervened to stop the clashes, but witnesses, Druze factions and the Observatory accused them of having sided with the Bedouin and committed abuses including summary executions.

For days, brutal videos on social media have appeared to show the execution of people in civilian clothing.

In March, sectarian violence tore through Syria's Alawite heartland on the coast, killing at least 1,426 members of the minority community, according to authorities.

A committee investigating those events released their findings earlier this month, identifying 298 suspects implicated in serious violations.