Mass graves are being uncovered across Syria, shedding light on the scale of atrocities committed under the brutal regime of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.

More than two weeks after Assad’s regime collapsed and he fled the country, countless Syrian families remain in the dark about the fate of their missing loved ones, many of whom were detained by Assad’s notorious secret police.

The Scale of the Atrocity

According to Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the US-based advocacy group Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), hundreds of thousands of bodies may be buried in mass graves east of Damascus.

Speaking to CNN, Moustafa said he was finally able to visit suspected burial sites after years of work.

One such site lies in Qutayfah, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Damascus. The area is marked by massive trenches:

• Depth: 6-7 meters (19-23 feet)
• Width: 3-4 meters
• Length: 50-150 meters

Gravediggers who worked at the site revealed horrific details. Between 2012 and 2018, four tractor-trailers, each carrying over 150 bodies, allegedly arrived twice a week. This chilling pattern amounts to hundreds of thousands of victims.

Moustafa recounted how workers were forced by intelligence officers to flatten and compress the bodies using bulldozers to make room for new arrivals.

New Discoveries in Southern Syria

On Monday, reports emerged of a new mass grave north of Izraa in Daraa governorate, southern Syria. Videos published by Agence France-Presse show men digging through the soil, pulling up bones, and unearthing rows of bodies.

Another clip shows a bulldozer carefully uncovering layers of earth while two rows of covered bodies lie on the ground.

The Missing: A National Tragedy

An estimated 150,000 Syrians are still unaccounted for, according to the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Many were detained, kidnapped, or killed by Assad’s regime or affiliated groups. CNN, however, could not independently verify this figure.

The ICMP highlighted previous accounts, including that of a man dubbed “The Gravedigger,” who testified in a German court in 2020. He described how Assad’s regime forced him to bury hundreds of bodies in mass graves.

• Mass Grave Sites: Bodies transported from detention centers were buried in areas like Qutayfah (north of Damascus) and al-Najha (south of Damascus).
• Harrowing Details: Each truck reportedly carried 300-700 corpses. Victims were marked with numbers on their foreheads or chests, exhibiting clear signs of torture and mutilation.

Calls for Justice and Accountability

Moustafa emphasized that there are at least eight known mass grave sites in Syria and urged international experts to assist with exhumations and identifying the bodies.

Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy to Syria, stressed the importance of preserving documentation for detention centers and mass graves.

“We must prioritize accounting for the missing and ensuring families receive the clarity and recognition they desperately need,” Fenton said during a recent press briefing.

A Family’s Loss: Voices from Survivors

For families like Hazem Dakel from Idlib, now living in Sweden, the discovery of mass graves reopens old wounds.

Hazem shared his family’s tragedy:

• His uncle, Najeeb, was arrested in 2012 and later confirmed dead.
• His brother, Amer, was detained the following year and disappeared in Saydnaya Prison, notorious for torture and executions.
• Former detainees reported seeing Amer in April 2015, after which he vanished. Though the regime never acknowledged his death, the family is now certain he was tortured to death.

Reflecting on Assad’s fall, Hazem expressed a mix of relief and grief:
“Yes, the regime fell after resistance and struggle, but there was sorrow – like, where are our children? They are mourning their loved ones.”

The Road Ahead

While Syrians celebrate the fall of Assad’s oppressive rule, the staggering discovery of mass graves underscores the enormous task ahead:

• Identifying victims
• Delivering justice
• Providing closure for families

The world is now watching as Syria grapples with its past, seeking answers and accountability for the thousands who vanished during one of the darkest chapters in its history.

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Syrian rebels reported uncovering approximately 40 bodies showing signs of torture at Harasta Hospital, a military facility in a Damascus suburb. This grim discovery follows the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who fled the country amid the rebels’ rapid advance.

Gruesome Evidence of Torture

Photos and videos released by the rebels depict bodies wrapped in blood-stained shrouds, stacked in a refrigerated room. Visible wounds, bruises, and adhesive tape bearing names and numbers were present on many bodies.

“I opened the mortuary door myself. It was a horrific sight,” said Mohammed al-Hajj, a rebel fighter. According to al-Hajj, the discovery was made following a tip from hospital staff. The rebels immediately informed their command and coordinated with the Syrian Red Crescent to transport the remains to a hospital in Damascus for identification by families.

Signs of Systematic Atrocities

It is unclear how long the bodies had been stored, but varying stages of decomposition suggest they had been there for some time. Human rights groups believe many of the victims were likely detainees from Saydnaya prison, infamous for torture and executions under Assad’s rule.

Diab Serriya, co-founder of the Association of Detainees and the Missing in Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP), stated that Harasta Hospital served as a hub for processing detainee bodies from Saydnaya and Tishreen Hospital before their transfer to mass graves.

Saydnaya: A “Human Slaughterhouse”

Saydnaya prison has long been synonymous with human rights violations. Amnesty International described it as a “human slaughterhouse,” estimating that over 30,000 detainees were killed between 2011 and 2018 through executions, torture, starvation, or lack of medical care. Recent reports indicate that at least 500 more detainees died between 2018 and 2021.

The ADMSP revealed that bodies from Saydnaya were temporarily stored in “salt chambers,” makeshift mortuaries designed to preserve corpses before burial on military grounds.

Search for Missing Detainees Ends Without Success

Simultaneously, the Syria Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, concluded a comprehensive search of Saydnaya prison on Monday, aiming to uncover secret cells or underground areas where detainees might be held. Despite deploying specialized teams, sniffer dogs, and personnel familiar with the prison’s layout, no additional bodies or detainees were found.

“We share the profound disappointment of the families who still have no answers about their missing loved ones,” the White Helmets said in a statement.

A Legacy of Brutality

The ADMSP’s records indicate that, as of late October, approximately 4,300 detainees were held at Saydnaya, with many now presumed released following Assad’s ouster. Harrowing testimonies from former prisoners have shed light on the systemic abuse, with survivors recounting extreme torture and neglect.

Global Call for Accountability

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist militant group instrumental in Assad’s fall, vowed to hold senior officials accountable for their roles in the regime’s torture practices. Jolani announced plans to publish the names of those responsible and offer rewards for information leading to their capture.

A Bleak Chapter in Syria’s History

The discoveries at Harasta Hospital and Saydnaya prison highlight the scale of human rights abuses under Assad’s regime. The international community has widely condemned these atrocities, with calls for justice and accountability growing louder. As Syria embarks on a fragile transition, the wounds of its brutal past remain raw, with thousands of families still searching for closure.

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