As reported by Anadolu Agency on Sunday, April 26, 2026, Syrian officials have made public a video confession from a major suspect involved in the Tadamon massacre of 2013, providing fresh insights into one of the most thoroughly recorded horrors of the nation’s civil conflict.
The Syrian Interior Ministry shared the video testimony of Amjad Youssef, recognized as a leading figure in the killings that occurred in the Tadamon area of Damascus. The clip, posted on the social media site X, followed his arrest two days prior during a security operation in the Hama province.
In the video, Youssef, who was a first assistant in Military Intelligence’s Regional Branch 227, confessed to executing detainees and getting rid of their remains to cover up the crime.
“I am the person in the video being shared online,” he stated, verifying his identity as the individual seen in earlier leaked recordings that drew worldwide focus to the massacre.
He recounted that he worked with Najeeb Al-Halabi, an associate of the National Defense Forces, to transport detainees suspected of aiding armed opposition groups. He mentioned that around 40 individuals were taken to a location where a pit had been dug using a bulldozer.
The detainees were shot one by one, and their bodies were discarded into the pit, he explained. Youssef also detailed efforts to eliminate evidence by incinerating the remains.
“We placed tires underneath them, stacked more tires on top, and ignited them so that no odor would be released in the vicinity,” he revealed in his confession.
He asserted that he did not personally choose the victims and was not given direct orders from a superior, noting that names were supplied based on reports accusing them of providing financial or other forms of support to armed groups.
The Tadamon massacre occurred on April 16, 2013, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 individuals near the Othman Mosque in Damascus. The killings had been largely overlooked until 2022 when a leaked video emerged showing detainees being executed and their bodies incinerated.
This footage led to global outrage and renewed demands for accountability for alleged war crimes committed during the Syrian Civil War.
Syrian officials have labeled Youssef as the central figure behind the massacre, stating that his arrest is part of a wider initiative to look into abuses committed during the war.
Since the conflict’s conclusion, the current government has committed to pursuing justice for the victims and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. The political situation in Syria changed drastically after former president Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia in December 2024, ending years of Ba’ath Party dominance. A transitional administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January 2025.
Authorities claim that investigations into war-related crimes are still ongoing, with more arrests anticipated as they continue to analyze evidence and witness statements related to past wrongdoings…..See More
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