Syria’s al-Sharaa extends deadline for investigation into coastal killings

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said the committee would help determine the perpetrators and hold them to account [Khalil Ashawi/Reuters]

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has extended the deadline for a committee to produce a report into the killings of hundreds of civilians on the country’s western coast last month.

Hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed in apparent retribution after fighting broke out between government forces and armed groups loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, who belongs to the Alawite religious sect.