Uncovering a covert operation to relocate mass graves
A Reuters investigation has documented a clandestine campaign by the Assad government to move thousands of bodies from one of Syria’s largest known mass graves to a secret site in the desert outside the town of Dhumair. The operation, codenamed “Operation Move Earth,” spanned from 2019 to 2021 and was intended to erase evidence of mass killings, Reuters found through interviews with 13 individuals with direct knowledge of the effort, official documents, and analysis of hundreds of satellite images.
Where the graves were and why they were moved
The sources describe a two-year effort to relocate corpses from the Qutayfah grave—one of Syria’s most expansive forensics sites created during the civil war—to a hidden location more than an hour away in the desert. The new site, described by witnesses as sprawling with at least 34 trenches each about 2 kilometers long, hints at a grim total that could reach tens of thousands of victims. By the end of the operation, the original Qutayfah trenches were emptied, according to accounts gathered by Reuters.
Mass graves as symbol and strategy
Witnesses say the decision to hide the scale of the killings appeared tied to broader ambitions to rehabilitate the regime’s international image following years of sanctions and allegations of brutality. As the regime faced pressure abroad and from its adversaries at home, officials reportedly sought to dismantle visible evidence of the network of prisons, hospitals, and security units implicated in mass detentions and killings.
How the operation unfolded on the ground
From February 2019 to April 2021, six to eight trucks containing dirt and bodies left Qutayfah for the Dhumair desert site on nearly four nights each week. Participants included truck drivers, mechanics, a bulldozer operator, and a former officer from Assad’s elite Republican Guard who was involved from the outset. Several of those involved described the operation as dangerous and stifled by the fear of retribution if they spoke out at the time.
People and procedures behind the scenes
Witnesses indicate that military commanders directed the transfer with the stated aim of concealing mass killings rather than redistributing remains for burials. The operation’s exact chain of command remains a focus for investigators, as does whether additional bodies from other sites were moved as part of the same plan. Reuters did not find public documentation naming the operation or listing its participants in official records.
What this means for families and accountability
The relocation project compounds the tragedy for families who have awaited news of missing relatives. Activists and researchers warn that such transfers can complicate the already difficult process of identifying remains and returning them to families. They also underscore the challenges faced by Syria’s new authorities, who are attempting to chart a path toward accountability and reconciliation amid limited resources and ongoing political fragility.
Mohammed Reda Jehlki, head of the government’s National Commission for Missing People, has acknowledged the magnitude of the task—creating a DNA bank and a centralized digital platform to assist families, and training forensic specialists. Critics, including watchdog groups, argue that the current approach lacks sufficient resources or independent oversight to address decades of disappearances and alleged abuses.
Context and next steps for reporting
Reuters has made the decision not to disclose the precise location of the Dhumair grave site to prevent tampering by potential intruders. A forthcoming special report will expand on the investigative process, including how reporters uncovered the scheme and the data sources consulted. While the Assad regime remains outside of Syria for the time being, the investigation highlights a persistent imperative: to document and verify abuses in a context where accountability mechanisms are fragile and political change is still fragile.
As families continue to seek answers, human rights groups and legal advocates say that transparency and forensic science are essential to addressing one of the war’s most painful fault lines. The pursuit of truth, DNA analysis, and documented records could eventually help many reunite with missing relatives and advance accountability for those responsible.
