BEIRUT, March 11. /TASS/. A fact-finding committee has started its work in Damascus to investigate the violence in Syria's coastal region and hold to account those involved in civilian bloodshed, the Syria TV channel reported on Tuesday.
"We are working on collecting evidence of the attacks on innocent civilians and identifying the criminals involved," the TV channel wrote, citing the committee’s Spokesman Yasser Farhan. "We are preparing witness lists and clarifying the places where the violence occurred in order to visit them." Farhan said, adding that forensic experts are involved in the investigation.
Farhan once again stressed that the "investigators participating in the work of the committee are following the principles of independence and impartiality." "None of the guilty will escape punishment," the spokesman emphasized. "The findings will be presented to the president and judges," he noted.
On March 9, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the formation of an independent national committee to investigate the recent deadly violence in the western part of Syria, according to a presidential decree. Among other things, the committee aims to investigate "crimes against civilians," "attacks on state institutions, the army and security personnel," identify all people responsible for the offenses and bring those involved to trial.
On March 10, the Syrian Defense Ministry announced the conclusion of its military operation in the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Hama and Homs, stating that security had been restored following recent clashes with armed supporters of former President Bashar Assad. The death toll in the clashes has reached 973, the latest estimates show. Most of all those killed belonged to the Alawite community, whose members make up 12% of Syria’s population.