Syria forms commission to locate thousands missing in war

Syria’s presidency announced the formation of two new commissions tasked with addressing crimes committed under decades of Assad family rule—one focused on transitional justice and another on the fate of the missing.

The National Transitional Justice Commission will work to uncover the truth behind serious human rights violations, pursue accountability, and coordinate with relevant authorities to deliver justice to victims.

A separate body will investigate the cases of more than 100,000 people still unaccounted for since the start of Syria’s 13-year civil war, according to estimates from the United Nations and rights groups.

Calls for justice intensified after the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham last year, following an 11-day offensive that ended decades of authoritarian rule.

The presidency said the new commissions will also be responsible for ensuring reparations for victims and addressing the legacy of the notorious prison system operated under Assad’s regime.