ISTANBUL

The National Commission for the Missing in Syria has conducted a field inspection of locations believed to contain mass graves in the northern city of Raqqa as part of national and humanitarian efforts to determine the fate of missing persons and protect the rights of victims and their families, Syrian media reported on Thursday.

Alikhbariya TV, citing a statement by the commission, said that the inspection took place on Jan. 20, and included sites suspected of “containing mass graves” due to their significance to truth-seeking and accountability efforts.

The commission warned that any unauthorized interference at the sites, whether confirmed mass graves or locations suspected of containing them, constitutes a “serious violation and may subject those responsible to legal accountability” under applicable laws and regulations.

It urged residents to stay away from the sites, avoid tampering with them and immediately report any information or suspected cases through official channels.

The Syrian Army took control of Raqqa on Monday after reaching the province’s administrative borders late Saturday, following operations that forced out the SDF, which had controlled the area since 2017 with US backing.

On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry announced a four-day ceasefire with the SDF. However, the group launched a series of attacks on Syrian positions on the first day of the truce, killing 11 soldiers and injuring 25 others.