The head of the United Nations human rights office urged on Friday for Syria's interim authorities to ensure accountability and justice for killings and violations in the southern city of Sweida.
"This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority, in line with international human rights law," OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement.
In his statement, Turk condemned the mass displacement and acts of violence in Sweida, including reports of killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property, and looting of homes.
“It is crucial that immediate steps are taken to prevent the recurrence of such violence. Revenge and vengeance are not the answer,” he said.
According to the UN, hundreds have been reportedly killed since the violence began on July 12.
Turk addressed the mass executions that have occurred over the past week, including one incident when a Druze man was publicly humilated when Syrian forces shaved his mustache, an important cultural symbol for the Druze, before killing him.
“My Office has received accounts of distressed Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones,” Turk said.
“The deployment of State security forces should bring safety and protection, not add to the fear and violence.”
Israeli strikes on Syria 'in defense of Druze population'
The Commissioner raised concerns regarding reports of civilian casualties from Israel’s airstrikes on Suweida and Damascus.
“Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects. Such attacks must cease,” he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the IDF undertook 160 aerial attacks on Syrian regime forces in and around the vicinity of Sweida in southern Syria.
IDF sources said that the military is ready for a multi-day campaign to convince Syrian regime forces to withdraw from Sweida and leave the Syrian Druze their autonomy.
Turk called for an urgent vetting process to ensure those committing human rights violations in Syria not be integrated into official security or military organizations.
“This is a vital step in rebuilding public trust and advancing Syria’s broader transition,” he said, adding that Syria’s interim authorities should publish the results of the national fact-finding committee’s investigations into the violence in coastal areas.
“Syrians deserve truth, accountability, and guarantees that such violations will not be repeated,” he said.
“With the fall of the former government, Syrians have witnessed a moment of hope for a better future based on human rights. It is the responsibility of the interim authorities to demonstrate that this chapter will be defined by rights, justice, and equal protection for all.”
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.