Crimes Against Humanity in Syria – 2: The Massacres Committed by Iran and Hezbollah
The myth of the so-called axis of resistance against Israel was used by Iran and Hezbollah to support the torturous Baath regime for sectarian motives and Iran’s national interests, and to legitimize the slaughter of millions of Muslims. The massacres in Syria—an extension of the crimes Iran and its proxy force Hezbollah committed in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside the United States and Britain—have, in the eyes of Muslim populations, been added to Israel’s massacres in Palestine.
Iran’s Massacres in Syria
Throughout the Syrian Civil War (2011–2024), Iran supported the Bashar al-Assad regime through an intense military intervention via the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Quds Force. This support contributed to more than 500,000 deaths and implicated the main perpetrators of civilian casualties in Syria: Assad, Iran, and Russia. The massacres directed by Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani went down in history as the bloodiest manifestation of Iran’s sectarian and expansionist aggression, hidden behind the false narrative of the so-called resistance axis. Iran’s role is directly associated with war crimes, crimes against humanity, and mass killings. UN reports, Amnesty International, and organizations such as the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) document that Iran-backed militias (e.g., the National Defense Forces – NDF and Hezbollah) carried out mass executions, torture, sexual violence, and starvation sieges against civilians. Below are the main outlines and examples of these crimes.
General Framework of Iran’s Intervention
- Military and Financial Support: Iran provided the Assad regime with $30–50 billion in loans and aid. At its peak between 2015 and 2018, 10,000 IRGC soldiers and more than 50,000 Shia militiamen (Afghan, Iraqi, and Lebanese) were deployed in Syria. These forces supported Assad’s army in capturing opposition-held areas.
- Share of Responsibility: According to SNHR, between 2011 and 2022, Assad and Iranian militias were responsible for 87% (over 200,000) of the 228,893 documented civilian deaths. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (COI) reports that Iran established and trained the NDF and that these militias committed massacres in the early stages of the war.
- War Crimes: The COI classifies indiscriminate attacks on civilians, mass executions, and sexual violence committed by Iran-backed forces as “war crimes.” Iran also carried out forced conversions and demographic engineering to increase the Shia population.
Notable Examples of Massacres
The following table summarizes the main documented incidents. These events were carried out by militias either directly commanded or supported by Iran.
Date and Location of Incident
Houla Massacre (May 2012, Homs)
Description
The Quds Force commander openly boasted about training Shabiha militias. Civilian homes were encircled, and mass executions were carried out.
Number of Victims and Details
108 civilians (including 49 children). Victims were stabbed or shot at close range.
Sources
PBS Frontline, U.S. Department of State
Date and Location of Incident
Aleppo East Massacre (December 2016, Aleppo)
Description
Iran-backed Iraqi militia (Harakat Hezbollah al-Nuaba) carried out mass executions of civilians. They supported Assad’s siege operations.
Number of Victims and Details
82+ civilians (including women and children). The UN classified it as a “war crime.”
Sources
Middle East Institute, UN COI
Date and Location of Incident
Ghouta Chemical Attack (August 2013, Damascus)
Description
Iran coordinated Assad’s chemical attacks. Sarin gas was used.
Number of Victims and Details
1,400+ civilians (hundreds of children). France accused Assad and Iranian officials of “crimes against humanity.”
Sources
UN COI, Paris Court of Justice
Date and Location of Incident
Yarmouk and Eastern Ghouta Sieges (2013–2018, Damascus)
Description
Iran managed the starvation sieges; aid convoys were blocked.
Number of Victims and Details
Thousands of civilians died from starvation. UN: “Collective punishment” and war crime.
Sources
SNHR, Amnesty International
Date and Location of Incident
Sednaya Prison Torture (2011–2024, Damascus)
Description
Iranian intelligence shared interrogation and torture techniques.
Number of Victims and Details
13,000+ executions. COI: “Crimes against humanity.”
Sources
UN COI, The Tower
Date and Location of Incident
Deir ez-Zor Massacre (August 2024, Deir ez-Zor)
Description
Iranian militias executed civilians; beheadings included children.
Number of Victims and Details
11+ civilians. Witnesses described it as an “Iran-backed massacre.”
Sources
Syrian activists, X posts
These examples show that Iran’s role goes far beyond mere “advisory” involvement and is not limited to direct command and training. Proxy forces such as Hezbollah and the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade operated under Iranian command.
Legal and International Consequences
- UN and Courts: The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) accuses Iran of committing “war crimes.” In 2023, France issued arrest warrants for Assad and Iranian officials. The Syrian National Dialogue Conference (February 2025) called for “transitional justice” regarding Iran’s crimes.
- Reactions in Syria: Following Assad’s fall in December 2024, Syrians now view Iran as an “occupying power.” The new administration is demanding $500 billion in reparations. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) accuse Iran of committing a “Shiite genocide.”
- Iran’s Defense: Iran justifies its intervention as “protection of Shia communities” and “counter-terrorism,” but this narrative has been rejected by the United Nations.
Why These Massacres?
Iran viewed Syria as a key part of its “axis of resistance” (a logistical corridor to Hezbollah). This strategy ensured Assad’s survival but led to the displacement of 13 million Syrians. 91% of civilian deaths were caused by the Assad-Iran-Russia coalition. After Assad’s fall in 2024, Iranian forces withdrew, but the legacy they left behind has severely complicated Syria’s reconstruction efforts.
These events are based on impartial reports and avoid political bias. The suffering of the Syrian people stands as a shame upon the international community.
Hezbollah’s Role in Syria
Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shiite militant group backed by Iran, was one of the most significant allies of the Bashar al-Assad regime in the Syrian Civil War (since 2011). As a component of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria was a strategic necessity: the collapse of the Assad regime would have threatened Iran’s weapons shipments to Lebanon and Hezbollah’s logistical lines. Although the group initially offered limited support, beginning in 2013 it deployed thousands of fighters openly, playing a critical role in propping up the regime. This intervention elevated Hezbollah to the status of a regional actor, but significantly tarnished its image—particularly among Sunni communities. Below is a summary of the historical context, key events, impacts, and recent developments. The information is based on international reports, academic analyses, and current news.
Historical Context
The relationship between Hezbollah and Syria has been built on a complex alliance since the 1980s. During the Lebanese Civil War, Syria supported Hezbollah under Iranian influence and encouraged the group’s resistance against Israel. Even after Syria withdrew from Lebanon in 2005, Damascus remained the main transit point for Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah. With the outbreak of the Syrian War in 2011, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah framed the uprising as an “Israeli-backed conspiracy” and justified the group’s intervention on the grounds of “protecting Shiite communities and holy sites.” Acting under Iranian directives, Hezbollah began covert operations in 2012 and officially entered the conflict with the Battle of Qusayr in 2013.
Main Interventions and Military Role
Hezbollah sent approximately 7,000 fighters to Syria—a significant portion of the group’s total strength. Operations were primarily concentrated around the Lebanon-Syria border (notably the Bekaa Valley), but also extended to areas such as Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Deraa. Here are the key phases:
Period | Main Operations | Impact and Losses
- 2011–2012 (Covert Phase)
- Protection of border villages, logistical support, and training. Coordination with the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps).
• Limited casualties; provided tactical advantage to the regime.
Period | Main Operations | Impact and Losses
- 2013–2016 (Intensive Intervention)
- Qusayr (2013: Cut the main supply route of the uprising), Siege of Aleppo (2016: Regime victory), Sieges of Eastern Ghouta and Madaya.
• Thousands of Hezbollah fighters killed; played a critical role in helping the regime recapture 70% of its territory.
Period | Main Operations | Impact and Losses
- 2017–2019 (Expansion)
- Defense operations in the Golan Heights, cooperation with Iraqi Shia militias. Integrated operations with Russian and Iranian forces.
• Gained experience in urban warfare; subjected to over 100 Israeli airstrikes.
Period | Main Operations | Impact and Losses
- 2020–2024 (Withdrawal)
- Decreased role; many fighters were withdrawn beginning in 2019.
• Justified by the regime’s “victory,” but full withdrawal was completed at the end of 2024.
Hezbollah even established a branch called “Syria Hezbollah”—units composed of Syrian Shia volunteers (e.g., Quwat al-Ridha) operated in coordination with regime forces. The group was subjected to sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and the Arab League. In 2013, Nasrallah declared, “We will only leave Syria if the Syrians want us to.”
Impacts and Debates
– Military and Strategic Gains: In Syria, Hezbollah upgraded its rocket and missile arsenal, strengthened coordination with Iran and Russia, and enhanced its proxy warfare capabilities. This prompted the group to claim it would be “more formidable in the next war” against Israel. However, it suffered over 1,600 casualties and triggered internal criticism within Lebanon.
– Human Rights Allegations: Hezbollah was accused of participating in civilian sieges (e.g., starvation in Madaya, bombings in Aleppo) and sectarian violence alongside the regime. Reports from Human Rights Watch and the UN state that the group was involved in ethnic cleansing and torture. In 2025, the war crimes trial of a Hezbollah member in Germany over events in Busra al-Sham brought the group’s role before an international court.
– Image and Regional Reactions: The intervention branded Hezbollah as a “Shiite paramilitary force” and earned it widespread animosity in the Sunni Arab world (e.g., Egyptian President Morsi’s condemnation of “aggression against the Syrian people”). Protests erupted in Lebanon, and even former supporters distanced themselves. However, the threat posed by ISIS attracted some Christian communities to its side.
– Iran Connection: Hezbollah received $200 million annually from Tehran. Syria was part of the so-called “Black Corridor” (Iran-Iraq-Syria-Lebanon).
Latest Developments (2024–2025)
The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 following a rebel offensive marked the end of Hezbollah’s presence in Syria. The group clashed with the new transitional government—arms smuggling and drug trafficking at the border were blocked. In 2025, Iran’s ambassador to Syria fueled sectarian tensions by implying that the Lebanese government was involved in the assassination of a Hezbollah leader. On the X platform (formerly Twitter), Syrians and Lebanese have condemned Hezbollah’s role; for instance, the killing of commander Abu al-Tabtabai was celebrated due to his crimes in Madaya and Qusayr. Hezbollah is attempting to maintain a presence in Syria through proxies like the Houthis, but Israeli threats toward the Golan Heights are escalating. The group is trying to compensate for its weakened position in Lebanon (due to Israeli strikes) with its so-called “legacy of resistance” in Syria.
Hezbollah’s role in Syria reinforced its status as a “state within a state” but destabilized Lebanon. Critics argue that this intervention has led to a sectarian disaster, while supporters frame it as a “victory against terrorism.”
The myth of a so-called axis of resistance against Israel was used by Iran and Hezbollah to support the torturous Baath regime for sectarian motives and Iran’s national interests, thereby legitimizing the slaughter of millions of Muslims. The massacres in Syria—an extension of the crimes committed by Iran and its proxy force Hezbollah in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside the United States and Britain—have been added, in the eyes of Muslim peoples, to Israel’s massacres in Palestine.