Nearly 1,400 Dead in Suwayda Massacre as Evidence Mounts of War Crimes by Syrian Forces
SOHR documents mass atrocities in Suwayda—386 civilians killed, including 238 executed by Syrian forces. Homes burned, families displaced, and sectarian tensions inflamed. Despite the Syria-Israel-US deal, justice remains elusive.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A new report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has revealed harrowing details of mass atrocities in Suwayda province, documenting what it describes as war crimes committed by Syrian military forces and affiliated groups. The latest figures confirm at least 1,386 fatalities since the outbreak of violence on July 13, including 386 civilians—238 of whom were summarily executed by personnel from the Ministries of Defense and Interior.
Documented Executions Inside Civilian Residence
One of the most chilling episodes occurred on July 15 inside the Al-Badr family guesthouse. SOHR obtained verified footage showing residents greeting incoming government troops with phrases of hospitality such as “We are family,” a display of trust that tragically preceded a massacre. A subsequent video from the same location shows the lifeless bodies of eight civilians—previously seen in the welcoming footage—executed in what SOHR labeled a deliberate act of mass killing.
Mass Displacement, Property Destruction, and Escalating Retaliation
The widespread hostilities have devastated Suwayda’s civilian population, particularly the Druze community. Reports detail systematic house burnings, public humiliation, and forced displacement. Hundreds of Druze residents have fled under dire humanitarian conditions, while dozens of Bedouin families were forcibly expelled from the province amid ongoing clashes.
Further inflaming tensions, unverified allegations circulated in the aftermath of Israel’s strike on the Syrian Ministry of Defense claimed that Druze militants massacred more than 200 Bedouin women and children. These claims fueled calls for a “general mobilization” against the Druze, amplifying sectarian rhetoric. However, SOHR’s investigation found only three confirmed Bedouin victims—one woman, one child, and one man—attributed to armed Druze fighters.
Covert Government Involvement and Sectarian Militias
SOHR sources confirmed the participation of Syrian government forces and affiliated factions, including the Sultan Murad Division, in Suwayda’s clashes. These groups operated under tribal cover to mask state involvement and deflect accountability. The Observatory warned of an orchestrated campaign using fabricated narratives to ignite communal strife and justify broader military intervention.
Local Forces Seize Strategic Village Amid Fragile Ceasefire
Despite a declared ceasefire between Bedouin-aligned security elements and Druze factions, violations have persisted. On Friday, local Druze fighters fully secured the village of Umm al-Zaytoun, after resisting withdrawal efforts by tribal militias, which appeared on video vowing to hold their positions. Clearing operations are now underway in neighboring villages.
US-Brokered Syria-Israel Deal Shapes New Suwayda Accord
These events unfold in the wake of a trilateral agreement reached Thursday between Syria, Israel, and the United States. Brokered in Paris, the deal seeks to de-escalate the Suwayda crisis and stabilize the province’s deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions.
Call for International Accountability and Justice
In light of the documented atrocities, SOHR is calling for the formation of a UN-mandated, independent international investigation committee with full legal authority—not limited to documentation but empowered to enforce accountability and prevent impunity. The Observatory underscored that the scale and severity of the crimes demand immediate international action to deliver justice for the victims and uphold human rights protections across Syria.
