Syria: Opposition Abuses During Ground Offensive

(New York, November 19, 2013) – Opposition fighters in Syria apparently executed civilians and others in their custody during an offensive in the Christian village of Sadad from October 21 to 28, 2013, Human Rights Watch said today. Other civilians were also killed unlawfully by opposition sniper fire and civilians killed by opposition shelling as fighting between government and opposition forces in the village continued may have been killed unlawfully.
During the offensive against government forces in Sadad, 100 kilometers northeast of Damascus, rebel fighters refused to allow residents of the village to leave their homes in areas with active fighting, residents told Human Rights Watch. In at least one case, fighters allegedly used a resident as a human shield. Residents also said that opposition fighters also stole personal items and vandalized, stole, and damaged property in at least three churches of local and historical significance.