Barak says Damascus vows to prosecute Suwayda atrocity perpetrators

By Saad al-Yazij

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barak said on Tuesday that the Syrian government has pledged to allocate all available resources to hold accountable those responsible for the recent atrocities in Suwayda Governorate.

The statement came following a tripartite meeting on Syria held in Amman, Jordan, which concluded earlier the same day. The meeting brought together representatives from the United States, Jordan, and Syria, and ended with a joint statement outlining several agreements. Chief among them was the formation of a trilateral working group to assist Damascus in consolidating the ceasefire in Suwayda, a province that has witnessed deadly armed clashes in recent weeks.

Barak described the talks, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), as “productive,” noting that they focused on reinforcing stability and addressing the aftermath of recent violence. “The Syrian government has committed to mobilizing all resources to hold accountable the perpetrators of the Suwayda atrocities, and to ensure that no one escapes justice for violations committed against its citizens,” he wrote.

The envoy stressed that “achieving justice and ending impunity are essential for lasting peace in Syria,” adding that Damascus had agreed to cooperate fully with the United Nations in investigating these crimes. This cooperation, he said, would include probing the “horrific violence” reported at Suwayda National Hospital, where medical staff and civilians were reportedly targeted during the unrest.

The joint working group announced in Amman is expected to coordinate between Syrian authorities, regional actors, and international partners to sustain the fragile calm in Suwayda. While no timeline for its operations was given, officials present at the meeting emphasized that the initiative aimed to prevent further bloodshed and to ensure accountability for all violations.