An international war crimes prosecutor has revealed that emerging evidence from mass grave sites in Syria exposes a state-run “machinery of death” under former leader Bashar al-Assad. Former U.S. war crimes ambassador Stephen Rapp estimates that over 100,000 people were tortured and killed since 2013 as part of this systematic operation.
After visiting mass graves in Qutayfah and Najha near Damascus, Rapp stated, “We certainly have more than 100,000 people that were disappeared into and tortured to death in this machine.” He compared the scale of these atrocities to those committed by the Nazis, citing the extensive network of state operatives involved — from secret police to those disposing of bodies.
The International Commission on Missing Persons has identified up to 66 potential mass grave sites in Syria, with more than 157,000 reported missing. Kathryne Bomberger, head of the commission, noted that the search for truth will be challenging, requiring DNA matches from multiple family members and skeletal remains.
Satellite imagery from Maxar confirms large-scale digging activity at Qutayfah between 2012 and 2022, showing trenches being filled with bodies delivered by refrigerated trucks. Syrian residents described witnessing the organized disposal of bodies, with security forces ensuring no one approached the sites.
Witness testimonies, including those from a former grave digger who buried thousands of bodies under orders, have been crucial in detailing these atrocities. The grave digger, who fled Syria in 2018, recounted trucks arriving weekly with 300-600 bodies, victims of torture, starvation, and execution.
As global efforts for accountability continue, calls have intensified to protect these grave sites and preserve evidence for potential war crimes trials.
