UN raises alarm over killing of 'entire families'

Rights commissioner calls for investigation after reports of 'extremely disturbing' attacks, as Syria sees deadliest violence since 2011

- By William Christou

The UN condemned what it called “extremely disturbing” reports of entire families being killed in north-west Syria as clashes between security forces and Assad regime loyalists resulted in one of the country’s highest death tolls since the start of its revolution in 2011.

The UN commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, called last Sunday for investigations into the killings and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

“We are receiving extremely disturbing reports of entire families, including women, children and hors de combat [surrendered] fighters, being killed,” he said in a statement. “The killing of civilians in coastal areas in north-west Syria must cease, immediately." Fighting began last Thursday after fighters loyal to the ousted Assad regime ambushed security forces in Jableh, in the coastal Latakia province, sparking revenge attacks, including against civilians belonging to the minority Alawite sect. Clashes erupted again on Sunday after security forces were attacked by Assad loyalists at a power plant in Banias, Latakia.

The Syrian government called for reinforcements, with thousands of fighters converging on Syria's coast from across the country. Fighters are nominally under the auspices of the new government, but militias persist, some of which have been implicated in past human rights abuses and are relatively undisciplined.