Syria sentences three men to death over coastal massacres

A Syrian court has sentenced 14 men over their involvement in the 2025 coastal massacres and subsequent unrest, in proceedings highlighting the continuing struggle for accountability after 14 years of civil war.

Three defendants received death sentences for inciting civil war, while two government soldiers were sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder. The trials relate to violence in Syria's coastal region, including Latakia, where mass killings left communities seeking justice.

Al Jazeera correspondent Heidi Pett reports that, although the proceedings mark a step towards accountability, many victims and their families believe too few people have been prosecuted.

Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who was sentenced to death in absentia, remains in Russia. Moscow has indicated that it will not extradite him, raising further questions about whether he will face justice.

The proceedings come amid continuing efforts to establish responsibility for atrocities and address the legacy of Syria's conflict.

Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett reports.

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