The spokesperson for the Syrian Committee for Fact-Finding, Yaser Al-Farhan, announced a preliminary report is underway, with the potential for an extension of the committee's mandate due to the expanding scope of its responsibilities.

Al-Farhan emphasized that the committee will refrain from publicizing any conclusions or recommendations before the completion of the investigation.

Originally appointed by presidential decree, the committee's mandate was set for one month starting on March 9. However, with ongoing investigations in Tartus, the committee has not concluded its work during the designated timeline.

Al-Farhan noted that the committee is in the process of addressing locations where reported violations occurred, asserting that final results will not be disclosed until sufficient evidence has been gathered to support its legal assessments regarding the nature of the violations and the identification of implicated individuals.

This thorough approach requires analyzing testimonies, evaluating legal categorizations of actions, and reaching specific outcomes.

The coastal regions of Syria, including Latakia, Tartus, and Banyas, experienced violent crimes in the first week of March, targeting civilians from the Alawite community as well as security personnel.

The Syrian government has attributed the attacks to armed groups loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, while allegations have emerged implicating members of the military and security forces in the killings of civilians.

In response to the violence, the Syrian presidency formed the National Independent Committee for Investigation and Fact-Finding into the coastal events.

This committee announced on March 25 its collection of numerous testimonies while stating that it remains premature to announce any investigation results.

Regarding representation, Al-Farhan clarified that committee members are independent legal experts rather than government employees.

Many have experience working in Europe or other regions and have existing collaborations with international human rights entities.

Two members are currently based in Syria, and the committee strives to be seen as impartial, emphasizing their commitment to justice and support for local communities.

International scrutiny has intensified as organizations such as Amnesty International labeled the incidents as 'war crimes', alleging that the groups involved are connected to or under the supervision of the Syrian government.

In light of these claims, Al-Farhan disclosed the committee’s invitation for Amnesty International to share its findings and methodologies for a thorough examination of its conclusions.

In a measured response to Amnesty's characterization of the events as ‘war crimes’, Al-Farhan outlined the complexities involved in establishing culpability, emphasizing the need to substantiate both the physical elements of the alleged crimes and the intent behind them.

He iterated the importance of cooperation in understanding how Amnesty reached its conclusions regarding the connections of these groups to the Syrian government.

To gather evidence, the committee has undertaken field visits and engaged with the affected communities, despite the possible intimidation factors present.

Many families in rural Latakia have come forward to provide testimony, contributing to a growing body of evidence.

Additionally, the committee has documented crime scenes and collected forensic evidence, aiming to analyze video footage and other digital materials to identify individuals involved.

The committee's investigations have directed its focus primarily on incidents impacting security personnel that resulted in fatalities at the onset of the violence, beginning March 6. The committee has also examined healthcare facilities that treated injured officers, as corroborated by medical staff, while reports indicated the discovery of a mass grave where deceased security members were secretly interred, according to witness accounts.