Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Syria investigates Assad-era mass grave after Reuters report
Syria's government has started investigating a big secret grave from the time when Bashar al-Assad was in power.
This grave was used to hide thousands of bodies that were buried in another place.
The government has sent soldiers to guard the grave and is planning to dig up the bodies in 2027.
A news organization called Reuters found out about this grave and told the world.
The government is now trying to find out who was involved in hiding the bodies.
They are also training people to do the digging properly.
The grave is in a desert area called Dhumair, not far from the capital city, Damascus.
Syria's government has opened a criminal investigation into a mass grave from the Assad era.
The grave, located in the Dhumair desert, was used to hide thousands of bodies moved from Qutayfah.
Operation Move Earth, orchestrated by Assad's inner circle, involved moving bodies from 2019 to 2021.
The government has stationed soldiers to guard the site and is planning exhumations for 2027.
Reuters reported the mass grave and operation, leading to the current investigation.
- Who
- Syrian government and National Commission for Missing Persons
- What
- Investigation into a mass grave from the Assad era
- When
- Investigation opened in November, exhumation planned for 2027
- Where
- Dhumair desert, east of Damascus
- Why
- To uncover and address atrocities committed under Bashar al-Assad's regime
- Location
- Dhumair desert, east of Damascus
- Operation Name
- Operation Move Earth
- Time Period
- 2019 to 2021
- Key Figure
- Col. Mazen Ismander
- Investigation Status
- Ongoing criminal investigation
- Exhumation Plans
- Scheduled for 2027
- Government Action
- Soldiers stationed to guard the site
- Reuters Involvement
- Reported the mass grave and operation