• More than 1,426 individuals were killed in March during sectarian violence in Syria's coastal regions.
• The Syrian committee concluded military leaders did not give orders for the violence against Alawites.
• 298 suspects have been identified and are being referred for prosecution; 37 individuals have been arrested.
• The incidents were the worst violence to hit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
• Security forces and armed civilians mobilized in response to attacks on security personnel, leading to widespread violations.

A Syrian fact-finding committee reported that more than 1,426 people, including 90 women, were killed in March during a series of sectarian violence incidents on the country's coastal regions. This investigation revealed it was the most significant eruption of violence since the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, highlighting the ongoing instability in the region. The committee states there is no evidence that military commanders had ordered attacks on the Alawite community, indicating that the violence stemmed from revenge rather than organized commands, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The violence began on March 6 with coordinated attacks on security forces that resulted in the killing of 238 security personnel. Following these attacks, approximately 200,000 armed men were mobilized from various regions of Syria to respond. The committee identified 298 suspects involved in serious violations, referring them for prosecution, while 37 arrests have been made. The types of violations documented included murder, looting, and torture, suggesting a broader pattern of sectarian violence that has destabilized the area and threatened the nation's fragile recovery from civil war, as noted by Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

The committee's investigation continues amid new sectarian violence involving Syria's Druze community, which raises further concerns regarding the government's ability to maintain order. Amid the ongoing unrest, international observers have called attention to the lack of justice for victims and the importance of accountability for the perpetrating violence, which includes targeted killings based on sect affiliation. Rights groups have emphasized the need for judicial actions to address these sentiments and provide justice to affected communities, as reported by Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.