Syria Sentences Two to Death Over 2025 Coastal Massacre

A Syrian military criminal court in Aleppo has sentenced two men to death and several others to prison terms for their involvement in the March 2025 coastal massacre, which resulted in over 1,400 fatalities. The verdicts, announced on Thursday, are part of ongoing legal proceedings against suspects linked to the widespread violence that targeted civilians.

The death sentences were handed down to Al-Waddah Ismail and Maher Ali. Mohammad Bakour received a 20-year prison sentence for intentional murder, while Maher Othman was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Ammar Abdul Aal was given a three-year sentence for torture. Captain Mustafa Shannan and Khaled Muhaimid, both members of the Defence Ministry's 54th Division, were sentenced to two years in prison for complicity in torture. Abdul Raouf Bakrjan and Mohammad Zarzouri were acquitted, and Mahmoud Shaheen, another Defence Ministry member, received a two-month prison sentence for assault.

In a separate case related to the massacre, Ismail and Ali were also sentenced to death for offences including acts intended to incite civil war and sectarian fighting, as well as leading armed groups to attack government forces. Othman received a 12-year prison sentence for complicity in these offences.

These rulings are part of a series of judicial proceedings aimed at holding accountable those responsible for the March 2025 massacre. The unrest involved armed clashes, military operations, and widespread abuses against civilians, leading to calls for justice and accountability for perpetrators from all sides. Earlier verdicts were issued on 17 September 2026, including death sentences, life imprisonment, and 20-year prison terms, as well as the acquittal of one defendant.

The trials have garnered significant attention as a key indicator of Syria's efforts to address abuses committed during the conflict.