Part 4/8:

Addressing the question of accountability, he underscored that all individuals, regardless of their alignment, must be held to account for war crimes and atrocities. This includes both the Assad regime and groups such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has previously suffered accusations regarding violent acts against civilians. Turk affirmed that international law applies universally and that justice must be sought without prejudice, warning against the danger of vengeance overshadowing justice.

Turk also noted the complexities involved in bringing high-ranking officials, such as Bashar al-Assad, to justice. He indicated that one pathway for justice could involve Syria’s accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), akin to actions taken by Ukraine and Armenia.