Discovery of Three Mass Graves in Homs Countryside: By the "Nusur al-Zawba’a" Militia
April 20, 2025, 11:44 am

Discovery of Three Mass Graves in Homs Countryside: By the

نسور الزوبعة

Documentation and human rights teams have revealed three mass graves in the western Homs countryside, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the entry of investigative teams into areas that were under the control of the regime and its militias. These graves were found near former checkpoints of the "Nusur al-Zawba’a" militia, the military wing of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, which is known for its dark record in violating the rights of civilians.

The details of the discovery included the existence of two graves in the Al-Baqi'a area near Talkalakh, where bodies were placed in pits designated for sewage. A third grave was found in the town of Qalaat al-Hosn, within an "artificial pit" next to an old water reservoir. The number of victims reached 48 bodies, including five children and one woman believed to be members of the same family who were executed in the field. The area had witnessed systematic violations, including enforced disappearance and arbitrary arrests, particularly between 2012 and 2015, during the control of "Nusur al-Zawba’a" and the regime's security apparatuses.

Among the accused officials, one of the most prominent leaders of "Nusur al-Zawba’a" in that area is Ziyad Masouh, who was temporarily detained following the discovery of the graves but was later released without any significant investigation. George Sleem, a checkpoint leader in Qalaat al-Hosn, is also considered one of the accused, although he has not yet been investigated despite his name appearing in victim testimonies. Nihad Samhan, one of the well-known field leaders, is also among those implicated.

Interestingly, all of these leaders continue to live in their homes among the families of the victims, with no accountability or investigation, as if nothing had happened. As for the militia, "Nusur al-Zawba’a" was a large militia comprising about 7,000 members, including women, and was known for its high readiness and spread across various areas of Syria, particularly in the western Homs countryside.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”