A/HRC/23/58 III. Violations concerning the treatment of civilians and hors de combat fighters A. Massacres 38. During the period under review, 17 incidents potentially meeting the definition of massacre6 were recorded. In the incidents discussed below, the fact of intentional mass killing and, in some cases, the identity of the perpetrator, were confirmed. Other cases remain under investigation. 1. Government forces and affiliated militia (a) Sanamayn 39. Government forces attacked Sanamayn (Dara’a) on 10 April 2013. Approximately 300 fighters from the opposition Martyrs of Al-Sanamayn Brigade were inside the city. In accordance with observed patterns, the attack began with shelling followed by a ground invasion. Suffering from a lack of weapons and ammunition, the armed group withdrew from the city after heavy losses. 40. Civilians fleeing the attack appear to have been targeted and killed. Eleven members of the Al-Itmah family and seven members of the Al-Nassar family were killed when their cars were hit by shells. Multiple allegations of the use of human shields were received, but could not be corroborated. According to multiple, second-hand accounts, government forces were assisted by Hizbullah fighters amid allegations of atrocities against women and children. Such information was not corroborated. (b) Baniyas 41. Government forces and affiliated militia attacked the village of Al-Bayda on 2 May 2013, and a neighbourhood in Baniyas (Tartous), on 3 May. Video material shows dozens of bodies of women and children apparently killed at close quarters. Evidence gathered indicates that the perpetrators were Government-affiliated militia. The investigation continues. 2. Anti-government armed groups Dayr az Zawr 42. Eleven men appear to have executed by gunshot to the back of the head on an unknown date. A known leader of Jabhat Al-Nusra from Saudi Arabia, Qassoura AlJazrawi, reportedly shot the men who were kneeling in front of him, hands tied and blindfolded. Al-Jazrawi claimed to be carrying out a sentence handed down by the “Sharia Court for the Eastern Region in Dayr az Zawr”. 6 See A/HRC/22/59, para. 42. 9