Military Operations Department of Syria's transitional government declares its forces have taken full control of Deir Ezzor city

(MENAFN) The Military Operations Department of Syria's transitional government declared that its forces have taken full control of Deir Ezzor city and its military airport, describing the city as "fully liberated." The Syrian Network for Human Rights has called for the extradition of ousted President Bashar al-Assad from Russia to face trial in Syria on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Syrian people. Syrian caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir stated that the government is committed to ensuring the rights of all Syrian sects and restoring security and stability to the nation’s cities. Ahmed al-Shara, commander-in-chief of the new Syrian administration, emphasized that those responsible for the torture and death of detainees would not be pardoned.

This development follows the selection of Mohammed al-Bashir, head of the Syrian Salvation Government, to form a new Syrian government to manage the transitional period. The Syrian Network for Human Rights accused Assad of killing at least 202,000 civilians, including 15,000 by torture, forcibly disappearing 96,000 others, and displacing 13 million people. The network further stated that 201,290 civilians had been killed by Assad’s forces and Iranian militias between March 2011 and June 2024. It also documented the killing of more than 23,000 children and over 22,000 women by the Assad regime and Iranian militias during this period.

The network recently reported that between November 27 and December 3, 2024, the Assad regime was responsible for the deaths of 105 civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. It also documented regime helicopters dropping barrel bombs on Idlib and Hama provinces. As opposition forces entered cities previously under regime control, reports emerged of the discovery of bodies with signs of torture in hospitals, including those from Sednaya prison, known for its brutal treatment of prisoners. One of the victims was Syrian opposition activist Mazen Hamadeh, who had been detained and tortured by the Assad regime before his body was found. In related news, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Israeli military actions in the Golan Heights following the fall of the Syrian Baath regime had worsened the situation in the region.

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