Syria: two people sentenced to death over deadly 2025 coastal violence

A Syrian military court on October 15, 2026 handed down sentences ranging from two months in prison to the death penalty against several defendants, including Defense Ministry personnel, over violations committed during deadly violence along the country's coast in March 2025, state media reported.

State-run Alikhbaria TV said the Military Criminal Court in the northern city of Aleppo handed down death sentences to al-Waddah Ismail and Maher Ali in a hearing at the city’s Justice Palace.

The court convicted both men of offenses involving acts intended to “provoke civil war and sectarian fighting, as well as leading armed groups with the aim of attacking government forces,” the broadcaster quoted the presiding judge as saying.

A third defendant, Maher Othman, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the court announced, without immediately specifying the charges on which he was convicted.

In separate rulings involving Defense Ministry personnel, the court sentenced Mohammed Bakour, a member of the ministry's 82nd Division, to 20 years in prison after convicting him of intentional homicide.

Capt. Mustafa Shannan and Khaled Muhaimeed, both members of the ministry's 54th Division, were each sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of involvement in torture.

The court also sentenced Mahmoud Shaheen, also from the ministry, to two months in prison over causing bodily harm.

Separately, Abdul Raouf Bakr Jan and Mohammed Louay Zarzouri, members of the ministry's 50th and 54th divisions, respectively, were acquitted of intentional homicide charges “due to insufficient evidence.”

The rulings are part of judicial proceedings involving former regime members and personnel serving under Syria's current Defense Ministry accused of violations during incidents of coastal violence in March 2025.

The violence erupted after armed groups loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad launched attacks on government security forces in Syria's coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, triggering clashes and widespread abuses of civilians.

The violence killed hundreds of civilians and security forces personnel.

Public trials over the coastal violence began at Aleppo's Justice Palace in November 2025, with defendants facing charges including incitement to sectarian strife, homicide, theft, and attacks on security forces.

On Sept. 17, the same court sentenced one defendant to death, another to life in prison, and a third to 20 years in prison, while acquitting a fourth defendant.