Tartous, May 2 (SANA) On May 2, 2013, the village of al-Bayda in the coastal Banias countryside became the scene of one of the most horrific massacres during the years of the Syrian revolution.
A large-scale military operation resulted in the deaths of 264 civilians, including women and children, according to reports from the Syrian Network for Human Rights and testimonies from survivors.
Human rights organizations described the conditions as “extremely brutal,” with raids on homes, summary executions, the burning of bodies, and widespread destruction of property.
Eyewitness Accounts from Survivors
Dhirar al-Hars, who was 13 years old on the day of the massacre, recounts horrific details that remain etched in his memory: “I carried my dead brother in my arms, his head split open and blood covering his body. Corpses were everywhere: in the streets, shops, basements, some burned. We were searching for our relatives among them.” Al-Hars describes these scenes as “a never-ending video,” referring to the acts of extermination carried out by elements of the ousted regime.
Calls for Accountability
Despite the passage of 13 years, the voices of survivors continue to call for justice. Citizen Ibrahim Bayasi says, “We demand fair accountability for the perpetrators. Impunity is a double injustice and a danger to society.” Survivors believe that the absence of accountability extends its impact to the present and the future, turning memory into an open wound.
A Broader Context of Violations
The al-Bayda massacre is not an isolated event; it is part of a series of massacres documented by human rights organizations in various Syrian regions, such as the nearby Ras al-Nabaa massacre. These events reveal the extent of the violations during that period, and their chapters remain open, awaiting the uncovering of the truth and the achievement of justice for the victims.
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