Since 13 July, the city of Suwayda, in southern Syria and heavily populated by Druze, has come under attack from various armed groups, primarily the Internal Security Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Interior. In response, the Druze population armed themselves and repelled these groups in clashes with the Internal Security Forces.
Following this, radical jihadist groups such as ISIS (DAESH), HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), and the Syrian National Army (SNA) began to systematically target the Druze community under the guise of Arab and Bedouin tribes. On the orders of HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani, a general mobilization was declared in the country, and radical groups were called to jihad. As a result, Salafi armed groups from various parts of Syria moved toward Suwayda and joined the attacks.
Hundreds of women abducted
As a result of these attacks, hundreds of Druze civilians were reported killed, more than 100 Druze women were abducted, many parts of the city were looted, and some areas were set on fire.
One of the targets was the hospital
One of the direct targets of the attacks was Watan Hospital, located in the city center of Suwayda. As the city’s largest hospital, it was serving thousands of people; during the assault, it was reported that hundreds of patients and injured people were inside.
ANF obtains footage of attack
ANF has obtained footage of Watan Hospital, where the massacre took place with hundreds inside at the time. Between July 16 and 18, the hospital was placed under intense siege for four to five hours by militias. After surrounding the facility with tanks, the militias entered the hospital and massacred doctors, nurses, the injured, and everyone present.
Shortly after, clashes erupted between the militias and local people inside and around the hospital. Some of the militia members were reportedly killed during these clashes. Exact figures on how many were killed, went missing, or were wounded by the militias remain unknown. However, it has been confirmed that the situation inside the hospital is dire, with bodies still present inside.
Under current conditions, removing and burying the bodies is not possible. Although the Syrian Red Crescent has delivered some aid to the area, reports indicate that the amount is very limited and insufficient to retrieve the bodies. Bodies are reportedly piled up, but no exact number is available. Many of the hospital’s doctors were killed by the militias. In the early days of the clashes, three doctors attempting to reach the hospital were assassinated by militias.
Footage obtained shows that dozens of bodies are still inside the hospital.
Source: ANF News
