381 Bodies Discovered in a Mass Grave Near Homs

Sources from the military hospital in the city of Homs said that hundreds of bodies arrived at the hospital over the past few days after a mass grave was discovered in Wadi al-Saghir area near the villages of Tarin and Kanissa west of Homs. The bodies were discovered when soil erosion resulting from heavy rains caused them to surface. The sources also said that 381 bodies had arrived in the military hospital since the beginning of this month, pointing out that most of the killings took place more than two years ago and that most of the bodies are of children of both sexes. The fractures in the skulls suggest that the killings resulted from smashing with sexes and hard sharp objects. Based on the ID cards found in the clothes of some of the victims, the majority of the bodies are of the residents of the the neighborhood of Baba Amr. An eyewitness was quoted as saying that he smelled foul smells when he passed by the area where the mass grave was discovered and also noticed newly unearthed soil and high numbers of stray dogs roaming the area. According to Syria’s Mubasher Network, more than 70 families fled from Baba Amr on June 2nd, 2012 shortly before regime forces stormed the neighborhood. The fleeing families had to pass through Al Naqqira and  Jobar checkpoints which were manned by members at the infamous Air force Intelligence and by paramilitaries known locally as the “shabiha” who were drawn out from the nearby pro-regime villages, especially Khurbet al-Hamam, Bsaqla and Um al-Itham. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Al Arabiya)