UN Investigators Prepare to Probe Assad-Era War Crimes in Syria

Syria's new authorities express openness to cooperating with the UN team as efforts focus on preserving evidence of atrocities committed during Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The UN's International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria completed its first visit to Damascus since its creation in 2016, led by Robert Petit.
Syria's interim government has shown receptiveness to cooperating with the UN team's investigation into potential war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide during Assad's rule.
The fall of Assad's regime has created a critical opportunity to access and preserve government documentation and evidence from detention facilities and prisons opened by rebels.
UN officials emphasize the urgency of securing evidence before it is permanently lost, with deployment preparations underway pending authorization from Syria's new authorities.
Achieving justice will require collaboration among Syrians, civil society groups, and international partners to ensure evidence preservation and inclusive representation for victims.