• The ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, visited Damascus to discuss war crimes accountability.
• Khan met with Ahmad al-Sharaa, head of Syria’s new de facto government, to consider justice options for victims.
• The meeting raises questions about how Syria can pursue accountability for alleged crimes despite non-membership in the ICC.
• Over half a million people have died and millions displaced due to the ongoing conflict in Syria.
• The visit is part of broader efforts to gather evidence of war crimes since the civil war began in 2011.

In a significant diplomatic move, the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, made an unannounced trip to Damascus last Friday to confer with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the newly installed leader of Syria’s transitional government. Khan's office announced that the visit was made at the invitation of the Syrian authorities, marking an important dialogue aimed at discussing the pathways to **ensure accountability for alleged war crimes committed** throughout Syria's devastating civil war, which has lasted over 13 years.

During the talks, Khan and al-Sharaa explored options for justice under the ICC, particularly for victims of the conflict that has claimed the lives of more than half a million individuals and displaced over six million more. Al-Sharaa, previously known as Mohammad al-Golani, heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that recently asserted control in the region following a rapid offensive that led to the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia in December 2023.

The oppressive regime under Assad has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including the disappearance of at least 150,000 individuals since protests erupted in 2011, with many likely victims of torture or execution in Assad's notorious prison system. Khan's visit comes amid ongoing discussions regarding the prosecution of such abuses, emphasizing the urgent need for documenting evidence before it becomes too compromised to be useful, as noted in previous observances made by the UN's investigative mechanisms.

Despite the imperative nature of such discussions, serious challenges loom due to Syria’s non-membership in the ICC, limiting the court's jurisdiction and ability to investigate war crimes directly. Past attempts to secure ICC involvement through UN Security Council referrals have been derailed by vetoes from Russia and China, reflecting the geopolitical complexities interweaving international law and military interventions.

More than a million civilians currently live under the harsh realities of the Assad regime and the new authority in Damascus. As these talks unfold, Khan's efforts represent a vital attempt to navigate the intricate landscape of justice and accountability amidst a backdrop of protracted violence and humanitarian crises in Syria.

For further details, read more from Al Jazeera.