US says 2013 video shows new evidence of Syria war crimes

Washington, Apr 29 (EFE).- The United States Friday said a 2013 video has emerged as new evidence of a massacre of civilians by the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.

“We strongly condemn the atrocities depicted in a recently released video,” said a State Department statement.

The statement said the video “appears to show blindfolded, unarmed civilians being shot point-blank by an Assad regime official before falling into a mass grave in Tadamon” on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.

The massacre took place in 2013 that “reportedly killed hundreds of Syrian civilians,” the statement said.

“The video, which suggests additional evidence of war crimes committed by the Assad regime, is yet another harrowing example of the horrors that the Syrian people have endured for more than a decade.”

The State Department said it continued to support the “brave individuals” who work to bring Assad and his regime to justice, “often at the risk of their lives.”

“It includes the vital work of Syrian civil society organizations to document violations of the law of armed conflict as well as human rights abuses and violations and their efforts to advance transitional justice.”

The statement said the United States remained firmly committed to securing accountability for the atrocities inflicted upon Syrians by the Assad government.

“Accountability and justice for the crimes, violations, and abuses committed against Syrians are essential to a stable, just, and enduring peace in Syria and the region.”

The Syrian conflict going on since March 2011 has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions of refugees in neighboring countries and internally displaced persons.

Several rounds of peace negotiations brokered by the United Nations have achieved little progress in ending the prolonged conflict that began with street protests against the Assad government more than 11 years ago.

The 45-member Syrian committee (15 representatives of the government, 15 of the opposition, and 15 of civil society) has held different rounds of talks in Geneva since 2019 to form a consensus on the constitution.

But the pandemic and the differences between the factions have caused delays. EFE

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