Horrors in Syria: Mass Graves of Assad Regime Victims Discovered

In the rural areas of Damascus, members of the Syrian Civil Defense have discovered charred remains of at least 26 victims of the Bashar al-Assad regime. These finding were made in two separate basement locations and add to the growing number of mass graves uncovered since the fall of the Assad regime in December, reports NewsBox.

The remains, believed to belong to men, women, and children, showed evidence of gunshot wounds and burns, indicating savage acts. Members of the Syrian organization "White Helmets," a volunteer group for civil defense, exhumed the remains from the basements of two houses in the town of Sbeneh. Wearing protective suits, they meticulously recorded and coded each discovery prior to transportation, according to The Associated Press.

The "White Helmets" have found over 780 bodies, most of which remain unidentified. The bodies were discovered in shallow graves, found either by local residents or unearthed by animals. The remains were turned over to forensic experts for identification, verification of time and cause of death, and potential matching with missing relatives.

"Of course, this will take many years of work," said rescue team member Abed al-Rahman Mawas.

Local residents who returned to Sbeneh in 2016 after fleeing the conflict recounted the horrendous stench from decomposing bodies. They discovered the bodies in the basement but were afraid to report it due to potential government reprisals.

The Assad regime, which ruled Syria for more than two decades, brutally suppressed opposition groups through airstrikes on civilian areas, torture, executions, and mass incarcerations.

Mohammad Shebat, a resident of one of the houses where remains were found, fled the area in 2012, and returned in 2020. He reported discovering the bodies with neighbors and demanding their removal. He believes the victims were civilians fleeing from the neighboring district of Al-Assali when fighting began and the Assad government started its siege in 2013. He claimed that government forces "locked people in basements, burned them with tires, and left their bodies there."