Friday, September 18, 2026 - A Syrian military criminal court in Aleppo has issued its first verdicts over deadly violence in the country’s coastal region, sentencing one defendant to death, another to life imprisonment and a third to 20 years in prison.
A fourth defendant was acquitted and ordered released, while verdicts for three other defendants are expected at a later hearing.
The case concerns violence that erupted in coastal areas including Latakia and Tartus in March 2025 after attacks on government security and military positions by forces aligned with the ousted Bashar al-Assad government.
Syria’s National Commission for Investigation and Fact-Finding reported that 238 security and army personnel were killed in the initial attacks and documented subsequent violations against civilians.
The verdicts mark a significant stage in a judicial process that began with public hearings in November 2025. The wider proceedings involve 14 defendants divided into groups linked to the former regime and current government forces.
The cases remain closely watched as Syria’s authorities pursue accountability for the coastal bloodshed, while rights groups continue to raise questions about the scale of prosecutions and the rights of victims and defendants.
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