The New Order

Syria’s new transitional leadership pledged this week to disband all rebel factions and that all fighters are “subject to the law,” an announcement that comes as local and international forensic teams are uncovering mass graves that have brought fresh attention to the atrocities committed by the regime of ousted President Bashar Assad, the Guardian reported.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that spearheaded the offensive that brought Assad down, announced the disbandment plan during a meeting with the Druze minority.

He called for Syria to “remain united,” adding that fighters will be “trained to join the ranks of the defense ministry.”

In a meeting with a British delegation, al-Sharaa urged the lifting of international sanctions, noting they were crippling Syria’s recovery and hindering the return of millions of refugees displaced by the civil war.

Observers noted that al-Sharaa’s comments are aimed at reassuring minorities and the international community about inclusivity in the transitional government following Assad’s removal.

The former Syrian president’s regime collapsed earlier this month after HTS-led rebel forces seized Damascus in a swift offensive, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule.

Despite HTS’s assurances, there are still concerns because of the group’s ties to al Qaeda and its designation as a terrorist group by the United Nations and Western countries.

Following Al-Sharaa’s remarks, the opposition Syrian National Coalition – a group united opponents of Assad during Syria’s civil war – stressed the need for a credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian government, Reuters added.

“Logistics should be worked out, and freedom of speech should be guaranteed,” said Hadi al-Bahra, the coalition’s leader, adding that they remain in communication with interim authorities.

But even as the new interim government grapples with state rebuilding, the recent discovery of mass graves near the capital Damascus underscored the magnitude of human rights abuses under Assad’s rule.

More than 100,000 victims were allegedly tortured and killed in what experts have described as a “machinery of death,” NBC News wrote.

Stephen Rapp, a former US war crimes ambassador, compared the scale of atrocities to those committed by the Nazis, calling it a “system of state terror.”

Images from the mass grave sites in the towns of Qutayfah and Najha near the capital showed piles of bones and skulls recovered by Syrian Civil Defense crews.

Satellite imagery and previous investigations have hinted at such sites, but the full extent of the brutality is only now emerging. The International Commission on Missing Persons has identified at least 66 mass grave locations in Syria and documented more than 28,000 missing persons.

International responses have been swift, with US officials vowing to collaborate with the UN to ensure accountability.

Even so, it remains unclear if and how Assad and his officials will be brought to justice. Following his deposing, the former Syrian leader fled to Russia, a country that is not party to the International Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, the European Union has begun cautiously re-engaging with Syria, signaling a willingness to aid in rebuilding basic services while expressing concerns about a resurgence of extremist groups, such as the Islamic State.

However, a number of European nations, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, have suspended Syrian asylum applications following Assad’s fall, sparking fierce debate over refugee repatriation.

Calls for deportation have grown louder among conservative and far-right politicians, while many Syrian refugees and advocates remain fearful of returning home.