UN Probes Rebels Over Massacre of Captives in Aleppo Village

Rebels Released Video Showing Aftermath of Mass Execution

The United Nations has confirmed that it is investigating a massacre by Syrian rebel fighters in the Aleppo city of Khan al-Assal, saying that what they have seen so far is “deeply shocking.”

The Khan al-Assal incident’s details are still a matter of some dispute, though rebels issued video footage showing rows of corpses, saying they belonged to slain soldiers captured in the rebel offensive.

The reports said that around 150 troops were killed overall, with some slain in the fight but over 50 of them reportedly bound and executed after the battle was already over, a violation of international law.

The rebel Syrian National Coalition (SNC) said they support the investigation and that the rebels condemn war crimes by “all parties.” Exactly which rebel faction was responsible for the massacre is unclear, with conflicting reports on who exactly captured and killed the fighters.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.