The Third Division, one of the former Syrian regime's military sectors, gained a reputation for brutality early on, being responsible for launching surface-to-surface missiles at various areas of the country, particularly Eastern Ghouta suburbs. This was in addition to its brutal military operations in the Damascus countryside and its repressive checkpoint practices in the Qalamoun region, which have targeted numerous activists and civilians.
A specialized military source revealed to Zaman al-Wasl a new addition to the division's dark record: a mass grave on the division's grounds, extending over an area of fifty dunams, containing the remains of hundreds of civilians and activists who died under torture in the division's prisons and other prisons, or who were victims of the division's checkpoints and raids.
The source says: Units of the Third Division were deployed in the Qalamoun region, and their operational areas extended across vast areas of Qalamoun's villages, mountains, plains, farms, and roads. These units arrested hundreds of local residents, subjecting them to unparalleled brutality and torture, reflecting the inherent hatred inherent in the division's operational methodology, which has been known for its sectarianism and criminality since the 1980s, when it practiced the same role against civilians and unarmed individuals.
Many detainees were killed under torture, while others were executed in the field, under the direct supervision of the division's security officer in 2011, Brigadier General Adnan Jamil Suleiman (promoted to the rank of major general), who soon became commander of the division in 2015 and remains so. His accomplice in these crimes was Lieutenant Colonel Firas al-Jaz'a, who was assigned command of the Qalamoun Shield Forces, which were formed as a parallel force to Assad's sectarian army in the region. This mission was then assumed by the division's new security officer, Brigadier General Muhammad Makhlouf, who was even more criminal than his predecessors.
Mass Graves Near the Third Division Command:
This is not a single cemetery, but rather several mass graves in the same location, where martyrs who died at the hands of the Assad regime's executioners were buried. The cemetery is located approximately 1,200 meters north of the division command, on an empty plot of land under the division's control. The area remains under heavy guard, preventing anyone from approaching the site. Burials used to take place at night.
The cemetery contains the remains of martyrs who died in several locations, most notably:
- Sednaya Prison: This is the primary source, as the bodies of martyrs who died under torture in this prison are transported to this cemetery after direct coordination with the criminal Adnan Ismail, who now holds the rank of major general.
- Third Division Prison: Where hundreds of martyrs died under torture, most of them residents of the area, who were arrested at the division's checkpoints throughout the Qalamoun region. There is evidence confirming that the criminal Firas al-Jaz'a executed them inside the prison.
- Division checkpoints: These checkpoints carried out field executions of civilians or activists. Sometimes, the mere family name of a passerby was enough to prompt immediate execution, without deterrence or restraint.
- Martyrs from raids and confrontations: A large number of civilians were killed during the Division's raids on villages and towns, the most horrific of which were the Rankous and Asal al-Ward massacres.
- Other sources: The bodies of martyrs who died under torture in security branches, such as the al-Qutayfah security detachments and the Political Security detachments in Damascus, were also transferred to this cemetery.
The cemetery expanded over time:
It is 270 meters long and 158 meters wide, with an area estimated at approximately fifty dunams. Longitudinal and transverse trenches were dug, and the bodies were placed inside under cover of darkness. Then, bulldozers filled them in.
The number of people buried in these graves is estimated to be in the thousands, with each trench measuring 160 meters wide and 120 meters long. Bodies are dumped in these graves en masse...
The following images speak for themselves. They are arranged chronologically, starting with the oldest and ending with 2016.
Those responsible for this cemetery:
The leadership of the Third Division is the sinful hand that has shed the blood of Syrians, civilians and activists, men, women, and children. However, the bloodshed extends to all those who participated in, supported, or remained silent about the dirty operations of the Assad regime's forces, which led to the killing and secret burial of thousands of Syrians in this mass grave. Meanwhile, the families of the disappeared victims wait, and their wait may be long before they discover that their children have been reduced to ashes under the soil of this cemetery.
The Criminals:
- Major General Adnan Jamil Ismail: He served as the division's security officer at the start of the revolution in 2011. He was primarily responsible for carrying out hundreds of executions inside the division's prisons. He continued his criminal activities after being appointed commander of the Third Division, succeeding Major General Louay Maala, who was transferred to command the Third Corps.
- Major General Louay Maala: The former division commander was responsible for executions between 2013 and 2015.
- Major General Salim Rashid Barakat: Responsible for executions until September 2013.
- Brigadier General Muhammad Makhlouf: The division's security officer, he continued the criminal career of his predecessor, Adnan Ismail.
- Lieutenant Colonel Firas al-Jaz'a: Director of the division commander's office and commander of the Qalamoun Shield Forces. He personally carried out hundreds of field executions and gloated over the deaths of detainees.
In addition, many officers and non-commissioned officers, executioners, and jailers, were tortured, abused, killed, liquidated, and buried.
Zaman Al Wasl
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