France Proposes Sanctions on Those Responsible for Atrocities in Syria’s Coast
Despite French efforts and the local commission investigating the atrocities in Syria’s coastal regions, the situation there continues to experience military escalation, which may complicate the chanc
March 18, 2025, 7:35 pm

France Proposes Sanctions on Those Responsible for Atrocities in Syria’s Coast

الساحل السوري

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that France has proposed imposing sanctions on those responsible for the atrocities committed against civilians in the Alawite coast of Syria.

Barrot wrote on his X platform account, "At France’s initiative, we adopted European sanctions against ISIS Khorasan and its propaganda arm." He also added, "We have proposed sanctions against those responsible for the atrocities committed against civilians in Syria’s Alawite coast."

Violent clashes broke out on March 6 between Syrian security forces and armed groups in the Latakia and Tartus regions. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, attacks by local armed groups on security force positions and Ministry of Defense formations led to widespread military escalation, resulting in the deaths of 1,476 civilians by Thursday, March 13, the majority of whom were from the Alawite sect.

In response, an independent national commission was formed to investigate the events in Syria’s coastal region, following a decision by the "Interim Syrian Transitional President" Ahmad al-Shara.

The commission consists of five judges, a criminal security major, and a human rights lawyer. It is tasked with investigating the causes and circumstances that led to these events, as well as probing the violations committed against civilians and identifying those responsible.

The commission’s duties also include investigating assaults on public institutions, security personnel, and the military, and referring those involved in crimes and violations to the judiciary.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”