The Syrian government has launched a wide-ranging criminal investigation into the discovery of a large mass grave, potentially holding the remains of thousands of victims from the Assad regime era. The investigation follows reports detailing the existence of a clandestine burial site in the Al-Dameer desert, east of Damascus.
The mass grave, allegedly used to conceal evidence of systematic atrocities, is located within a former military installation in the remote desert region. According to reports, the site was previously used as a weapons depot.
Sources indicate that in 2018, the facility was emptied of personnel to ensure the secrecy of an operation reportedly code-named “Transfer of Soil.” This operation allegedly involved exhuming bodies from a mass grave on the outskirts of Damascus and transporting them to the Al-Dameer site for reburial, effectively concealing the evidence.
The reported operation spanned approximately two years, from 2019 to 2021. Convoys of trucks, allegedly carrying human remains and soil, entered the site under military escort, depositing their loads into prepared trenches and pits.
Following the change in government in December 2024, Syrian military forces secured the Al-Dameer site. Military officials have confirmed that the facility was reactivated in November as a military base and weapons depot, as part of a broader strategy to secure the open desert areas and prevent their exploitation by hostile entities. The nearby desert road connects regions with activity from the Islamic State group to the capital Damascus.
Authorities have pledged a full and transparent investigation into the matter, underscoring the commitment to uncovering the truth and bringing those responsible for the alleged atrocities to justice. The investigation is ongoing.
