Syria forms committee to investigate violence in Sweida province

Syria’s justice ministry announced on Thursday the formation of a committee to investigate deadly violence in the southern Druze-majority province of Sweida.

The week-long clashes which began on July 13 killed scores of people.

In a decree issued Thursday, the justice ministry said it sought to shed light on “the circumstances and conditions that led to the events,” investigate “attacks and violations against citizens” and refer any culprits to the judiciary.

A seven-member committee, including four judges, two lawyers and a brigadier general, would present its findings within three months, the decree said.

Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais said the committee was formed to “bring those involved to justice.”

Al-Wais expressed his hope that the investigation “will lead to the preservation of the rights of all citizens … and the protection of national unity and civil peace.”

The violence in Sweida had initially pitted local Druze fighters against Bedouin tribes, but rapidly escalated and saw the involvement of Syrian government forces as well as Israel, which has claimed it was acting to protect the Druze minority.