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Syrian court sentences two to death over 2025 coastal violence

Syrian court sentences two to death over 2025 coastal violence

Rule Changes

First convictions of the new government's own security forces test whether post-Assad justice holds all sides accountable.

October 15th, 2026: Court sentences two to death, convicts five security personnel

Overview

Updated Oct 20

A Syrian military court sentenced two former Assad loyalists to death on October 15 and gave prison terms to five members of the new government's security forces, including 20 years for intentional homicide and three years for torture. Judges at the Aleppo court acquitted two security personnel and sentenced a third former regime supporter to 12 years.

The September 17 verdicts in the same case brought one death sentence, one life term and one 20-year term. The court has now ruled on 14 defendants across nine sessions since November 2025; the government's investigation committee has named 298 suspects in violence that killed 1,426 people, most of them Alawite civilians.

Why it matters

The first convictions of Syria's own security forces test whether post-Assad justice holds all sides accountable, not just the ousted regime's loyalists.

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Key Indicators

1,426
People killed in March 2025 coastal violence
Documented by the government investigation committee; most were Alawite civilians killed over several days.
298
Suspects identified by investigation committee
Includes both Assad loyalists and members of the new government's security forces.
10
Defendants in the October 15 session
Three from the ousted regime and seven from the Defence Ministry. Across all sessions the court has heard 14 defendants since November 2025.
5
Security personnel convicted in October 15 rulings
Prison terms ranged from two months to 20 years; two security personnel were acquitted.

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People Involved

Al-Waddah Ismail
Al-Waddah Ismail
Defendant sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on October 15, 2026
 Maher Ali
Maher Ali
Defendant sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on October 15, 2026
MB
Mohamed Bakour
Defence Ministry member convicted of intentional homicide
Sentenced to 20 years in prison
 Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Former Syrian president
In exile in Russia since December 2024
MO
Maher Othman
Defendant sentenced to 12 years
Sentenced to 12 years on October 15, 2026
 Ammar Abdul Aal
Ammar Abdul Aal
Security force member convicted of torture
Sentenced to three years in prison

Organizations Involved

MC
Military Criminal Court (Aleppo)
Military court
Has issued two rounds of verdicts in coastal violence cases

The Aleppo-based military court is hearing the first cases arising from the March 2025 coastal violence, charging both Assad loyalists and members of the new government's security forces.
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
State news agency
Reporting official verdicts

Syria's official news agency has been the primary channel for announcing the court's rulings and the investigation committee's findings.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Monitoring Group
Monitoring trials; warning against selective justice

The war monitor has followed the coastal violence cases closely and called for non-selective accountability.

Timeline

December 2024 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 15th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Court sentences two to death, convicts five security personnel

    Latest Legal

    Ismail and Ali get death for inciting civil war; Bakour gets 20 years; two acquitted.

  2. Court hands down first verdicts in coastal violence case

    Legal

    The Aleppo military court sentenced one defendant to death, one to life imprisonment and one to 20 years, and acquitted a fourth.

  3. Aleppo military court opens coastal violence sessions

    Legal

    The Military Criminal Court in Aleppo began hearing the coastal violence cases. It has held nine sessions covering 14 defendants, under presiding judge Zakaria Bakkar.

  4. Investigation committee delivers final report

    Investigation

    The national committee investigating the March 2025 violence gave its final report to President Ahmed al-Sharaa after field visits and testimony from hundreds of witnesses in Latakia and Tartous.

  5. Sectarian violence kills hundreds

    Conflict

    Government reinforcements respond in Alawite coastal areas; at least 1,426 people die, most civilians.

  6. Pro-Assad gunmen attack security forces

    Conflict

    Armed loyalists launch coordinated attacks on security forces around Jableh, killing at least 200 personnel.

  7. Investigation committee names 298 suspects

    Investigation

    Government committee documents murder, torture, looting and burning of homes, identifying 298 suspects.

  8. Assad regime falls

    Political

    Bashar al-Assad flees Syria as opposition forces take Damascus, ending 24 years of rule.

Scenarios

1

Syria extends prosecutions to remaining coastal violence suspects

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Investigation committee findings reported by SANA

The government committee identified 298 suspects but only 10 have faced trial. If the process continues, additional defendants from both the Assad camp and the security forces will appear before the Aleppo court.

2

Selective-justice criticism crystallizes into documented accountability gap

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)

SOHR has warned that holding one side accountable while ignoring the other would undermine the trials. If the government scales back prosecutions of its own forces, SOHR and other rights groups may document specific abuses that go unpunished.

3

Syria decides on its first executions since Assad's fall

Uncertain Resolves by Oct 31, 2028

Discussed by: DPA, death penalty observers

No executions have been carried out in Syria since Assad's ouster in late 2024. The death sentences against Ismail and Ali could be carried out, commuted, or left unresolved. The decision tests the new government's approach to capital punishment.

4

Prosecutors charge commanders who directed the coastal operation

Uncertain Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The Syrian Observer

The verdicts so far name individual defendants. The Syrian Observer notes no public indication that prosecutors are investigating those who planned, directed or supervised the military operations during which the killings occurred.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

November 1945 - October 1946

Nuremberg Trials (1945-1946)

After World War II, Allied powers tried 22 senior Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace. Twelve were sentenced to death.

Then

The trials marked the first time a defeated regime's leadership was held criminally responsible for atrocities in an international court.

Now

The Nuremberg principles became the foundation of modern international criminal law, including crimes against humanity and command responsibility.

Why this matters now

Established the template for post-defeat accountability, the same structural position Syria's new government faces in prosecuting Assad loyalists.

October 2005 - December 2006

Iraq's trials of Saddam-era officials (2005-2006)

After the 2003 US invasion, the Iraqi Special Tribunal tried Saddam Hussein and senior Ba'athist officials. Saddam was convicted of crimes against humanity for the 1982 Dujail massacre and executed in December 2006.

Then

The trials provided formal accountability but drew criticism as victor's justice, with the tribunal dominated by the new Shia-led government.

Now

Iraq never fully accounted for abuses by Shiite militias and its own forces, and the trials remain a contested model of post-dictator justice.

Why this matters now

Shows how a new government's selective pursuit of the old regime, while ignoring its own allies' abuses, erodes the legitimacy of transitional justice.

1994-2012

Rwanda's post-genocide trials (1994-2000s)

After the 1994 genocide that killed roughly 800,000 Tutsis, Rwanda's new government prosecuted hundreds of thousands of genocidaires through conventional courts and community gacaca courts.

Then

Rwanda convicted most genocide suspects but largely avoided prosecuting abuses by its own Rwanda Patriotic Front forces.

Now

The RPF accountability gap remains a documented criticism, even as Rwanda is cited as a successful transitional justice case.

Why this matters now

The same tension — prosecuting the defeated side while sparing one's own forces — is exactly what SOHR warns against in Syria.

Sources

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Al Jazeera Anadolu Agency DPA via Yahoo News Syrian Observatory for Human Rights North Press Agency Euronews Arabic Der Spiegel Inkl Aktualitet Al Jazeera Arabic Syria Now