Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 22 August 2011 to investigate human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War to establish the facts and circumstances that may amount to violations and crimes and, where possible, to identify those responsible to be held accountable with a future prosecution of Syrian civil war criminals. The Commission posts regular updates via its official Twitter page.

The Commission has interviewed more than 6,000 victims and witnesses, produced over 20 reports and prepared several examples of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Administration

The current commissioners are Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Brazil), Karen Koning AbuZayd (United States) and Hanny Megally (Egypt). The former commissioners are Carla Del Ponte (Switzerland), Vitit Muntarbhorn (Thailand) and Yakin Erturk (Turkey).

Shortly after the commission was established, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Karen Koning AbuZayd and Yakin Erturk were appointed by the President of the UNHRC to serve as the Commissioners.Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic - About the Commission of Inquiry
OHCHR. In March 2012, Erturk stepped down from the position. Two new commissioners, Carla Del Ponte and Vitit Muntarbhorn, were appointed after the extension of the commission's mandate in September 2012. In 2016, Muntarbhorn stepped down when the UNHRC designated him the first United Nations Independent Expert on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In August 2017, Del Ponte resigned.UN Syria investigator quits over concern about Russian obstruction
''The Guardian'', 7 August 2017 Hanny Megally was appointed by the President of the UNHRC to serve as the third Commissioner in October 2017.

Del Ponte resignation

In August 2017, Del Ponte resigned from the Commission, due to frustration at the lack of support from the international community: "We could not obtain from the international community and the Security Council a resolution putting in place a tribunal, an ad hoc tribunal for all the crimes that are committed in Syria... Seven years of crime in Syria and total impunity. That is not acceptable."Syria investigator del Ponte signs off with a sting
Reuters, 18 September 2017 She blamed Russia for vetoing action: "Now a prosecutor should continue our work and bring the war criminals before a special court. But that is exactly what Russia is blocking with its veto in the U.N. Security Council".Syria investigator del Ponte says enough evidence to convict Assad of war crimes: SonntagsZeitung
Reuters, 13 August 2017 She said Assad's government used chemical weapons the during the April 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack, and that the Commission has gathered enough evidence for President al-Assad to be convicted of war crimes.

Houla massacre

The inquiry's investigations have included the May 2012 Houla massacre. Its preliminary report was published in June 2012. The report noted that the commission's investigation was significantly hindered because they had not been allowed access to Syria."Oral Update of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic." United Nations, Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights. A/HRC/20/CRP.1, 26 June 2012.
/ref> Based on the available evidence, the commission did not rule out any of three possible perpetrators but said it was unlikely that anti-government fighters were responsible. In an August 2012 report, following continued investigations focusing on identifying the perpetrators, the commission concluded there was a reasonable basis to believe the perpetrators were aligned to the Syrian government. The report said a "lack of credible information supporting other possibilities" bolstered this conclusion.

Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack

A March 2017 report included the commission's investigation of the September 2016 Urum al-Kubra aid convoy attack."War crimes committed by all parties in battle for Aleppo – UN-mandated inquiry on Syria"
UN News. March 1, 2017. The report said satellite imagery and forensic evidence implicated Syria's air force, and no Russian or coalition aircraft were in the area during the time of the attack. According to the report, the Syrian Air Force dropped barrel bombs from helicopters on a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy, then fired rockets from jets, and then strafed survivors with machine guns. 14 aid workers were killed, 17 trucks carrying aid supplies were destroyed, and the attack led to the suspension of all humanitarian aid in the country. The attack was described as "meticulously planned" and "ruthlessly carried out".Cumming-Bruce, Nick; Barnard, Anne (March 1, 2017)
""U.N. Investigators Say Syria Bombed Convoy and Did So Deliberately"
''The New York Times''. Due to the intentional targeting of aid workers and civilians, as well as the denial of humanitarian aid, the report described the attack as a war crime.

Al-Jinah airstrike

A September 2017 report investigated the al-Jinah airstrike which occurred on March 16, 2017.Masri, Lena (September 7, 2017)
"US airstrikes on Syria mosque compound violated international law, UN says"
ABC News. According to the report, United States forces hit a building, described as a mosque complex in the report, with ten bombs and an additional two missiles were fired at the people fleeing.Nebehay, Stephanie (September 6, 2017)
"Syrian government forces used chemical weapons more than two dozen times: U.N."
Reuters. The airstrikes killed 38 people, including five children, and another 26 were injured. The commission's findings did not corroborate an allegation from the United States that an al-Qaeda meeting occurred and, according to the commission, no evidence was released by the United States to support this claim. The report said that the United States team did not sufficiently verify the target before the strike. The commission concluded that the forces of the United States had violated international humanitarian law.

Ma'arrat al-Nu'man and Hass attacks

In March 2020, a report from the commission investigated two incidents involving the bombing of civilian areas.Borger, Julian (March 3, 2020)
"Russia committed war crimes in Syria, finds UN report"
''The Guardian''. The first was the Ma'arrat al-Numan market bombing on 22 July 2019. At least two Russian planes had circled the area after leaving Hmeimim Air Base.Nebehay, Stephanie (March 3, 2020)
"Russia, Turkey may have carried out war crimes in Syria, U.N. says"
Reuters. A series of airstrikes on the market killed 43 civilians, including four children, and wounded at least 109 others. Two residential buildings and 25 shops were also destroyed. When aid workers arrived there was another wave of bombing, described in the report as a "double tap" airstrike. The second attack was the Hass refugee camp bombing on 16 August 2019, which killed 20 people and injured 40 others. Of the 20 people killed, 14 were women and children. Based on the available evidence, the commission had reasonable grounds to believe Russian aircraft participated in both incidents and, according to the report, both attacks were war crimes by the Russian Air Force.

Chemical weapons use in Syria

On 5 May 2013 Carla del Ponte accused the Syrian rebels of using chemical weapons, a view of Syrian opposition chemical weapons capability diametrically opposed by the majority of Western government officials. She stated, "We still have to deepen our investigation, verify and confirm (the findings) through new witness testimony, but according to what we have established so far, it is at the moment opponents of the regime who are using sarin gas." On 6 May 2013, in an apparent reaction to Del Ponte’ comments the Commission issued a press release clarifying that it “has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties in the conflict”.Los Angeles Times, May 06, 2013
"U.N.'s Carla del Ponte say Syrian Rebels May Have Used Sarin"
/ref>

In June 2013, the Commission reported that there was reason to believe that "limited quantities of toxic chemicals" had been used in the Khan al-Assal attack, but that it was not then in a position "to determine the precise chemical agents used, their delivery systems or the perpetrator".BBC
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