Syria: Reports of Mass Executions and Sectarian Killings
Over 100 Confirmed Dead, but Actual Death Toll Could Be Much Higher
In Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan confirmed that 111 people have been officially reported dead. However, media sources suggest the true death toll may be closer to 1,000 following alleged attacks by security forces allied with Syria’s Caretaker Authorities in coastal regions that were once strongholds of ousted President Bashar Al-Assad.
“Many of the cases documented were summary executions,” Al-Kheetan told journalists. He explained that the killings, which took place in the Tartus, Latakia, and Hama governorates, appeared to be sectarian in nature. Reports indicate that unidentified armed individuals, groups supporting the Caretaker Authorities’ security forces, and former government-affiliated elements were involved in the violence.
Eyewitness testimonies collected by OHCHR suggest that attackers raided homes, questioning residents about their religious background—specifically whether they were Alawite or Sunni—before deciding who would be executed or spared.
“Some survivors told us that many men were shot dead in front of their families,” Al-Kheetan revealed.
Hospitals were also reportedly targeted, with patients, doctors, and medical students among the victims of the violence.
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UN Welcomes Agreement Between Caretaker Authorities and Kurdish-Led Forces
The United Nations has welcomed a landmark agreement between Syria’s Caretaker Authorities and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which was finalized on Monday.
The SDF, a key force in the opposition against the former Assad government, controls large areas in northeastern Syria. Under the agreement, SDF forces will be integrated into the national army, and the Kurdish population will be formally recognized as an essential part of the Syrian state.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen expressed hope that this deal will pave the way for a credible and inclusive political transition, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This resolution outlines a roadmap for a new constitution, followed by free and fair elections.
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Humanitarian Aid Continues to Flow into Northwest Syria
As violence continues, humanitarian aid remains crucial for affected communities. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking in New York, confirmed that cross-border aid deliveries from Türkiye to northwest Syria are ongoing.
On the most recent shipment, 31 trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) passed through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, delivering over 600 metric tons of essential supplies—including food, shelter materials, and hygiene kits.
“This much-needed aid comes as we and our partners continue working to assist people in need, especially those displaced by recent violence,” Dujarric said.
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ICC Arrests Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
UN Human Rights Office Praises Families Seeking Justice
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested in Manila in compliance with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
While the ICC is not a UN body, it maintains a cooperation agreement with the United Nations. The court has been investigating Duterte’s harsh anti-drug campaign, which took place between 2016 and 2022.
The OHCHR had previously condemned the crackdown, citing widespread extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and near-total impunity for human rights violations.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani emphasized the need to end impunity and protect victims and witnesses from retribution. She also commended the courage of families who have been seeking justice for victims of Duterte’s administration.
Despite thousands of reported executions, only four cases have led to convictions after appeals.
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Sudan: Dire Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Healthcare System Collapses
Overwhelmed Hospitals and Shortages of Medical Staff
Humanitarian aid groups in North Darfur, Sudan, report catastrophic conditions for civilians in urgent need of medical assistance. The crisis is particularly severe in El Fasher, the state capital, and in displacement camps surrounding the area.
Sudan remains locked in a brutal power struggle between the transitional military government and its former allies, the
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