Overview: A hidden operation to erase evidence
A Reuters investigation has uncovered a clandestine two-year operation by the Assad government to move thousands of bodies from one of Syria’s largest mass graves to a secret site in the desert. The effort, codenamed “Operation Move Earth,” spanned from 2019 to 2021 and involved multiple trucks, laborers, and heavy equipment working under strict secrecy.
Where the graves are and what happened
The initial grave was at Qutayfah, a site that authorities began filling with the dead early in the civil war. A second, sprawling grave site was established in the Dhumair desert, dozens of kilometers away. Satellite imagery and testimonies from people with direct knowledge indicate that the transfer aimed to bury evidence of mass killings and potentially alter the country’s international standing.
Scale and scope
Witnesses described a routine pattern: every week, for several months, six to eight trucks carried dirt and human remains from Qutayfah to the desert site. In total, four nights per week were devoted to the operation from early 2019 through spring 2021. The Dhumair site reportedly contains at least 34 trenches, with the capacity to hold tens of thousands of bodies, suggesting a vast scope that dwarfs other-known graves from the conflict.
Motivation and leadership
Several former security and military figures cited by witnesses described the project as an attempt to restore the regime’s legitimacy after years of sanctions and international condemnation. The plan reportedly originated as the regime neared a pivotal moment in the war, when regaining international recognition appeared strategically important.
Reaction and accountability questions
By the time the Assad regime lost control in parts of the country, officials had emptied the Qutayfah trenches. Rights groups estimate that more than 160,000 people disappeared into Syria’s security apparatus during the conflict, with mass graves remaining largely unprotected and inaccessible to independent investigators.
Syria’s new government has promised reforms, including a DNA bank and a digital platform for families of the missing, but resources remain scarce. Human rights advocates emphasize the need for proper grave excavation and forensic work to document victims and support families seeking closure.
What this means for victims’ families
Experts caution that piecing together decedents’ remains is a complex, resource-intensive process. The alleged transfer complicates future exhumations and DNA analysis, potentially delaying justice for thousands of families who have waited years for accountability and truth.
Next steps and ongoing reporting
Reuters has informed government officials of the findings and plans a forthcoming special report detailing how the investigation was conducted and how information was collected. In Syria, where documentation is scarce and access is tightly controlled, the path to justice remains arduous but essential for healing a nation scarred by war.
