In the war-torn landscape of Syria's Druze-majority Suweida province, serious allegations have surfaced regarding a massacre at a local hospital following recent sectarian violence. Eyewitnesses and medical staff report that Syrian government troops allegedly targeted the facility, resulting in numerous deaths among both young and elderly patients.
While visiting Suweida's National Hospital, our correspondent noted a disturbing scene: dozens of decomposing bodies were found in plastic bags within the car park, casting a harrowing stench across the area. "It was a massacre," Dr. Wissam Massoud, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, stated emphatically, describing how soldiers approached the hospital under the guise of restoring peace, only to unleash violence against the most vulnerable.
Dr. Massoud shared a video depicting the aftermath of the raid, showcasing the grim reality as several deceased patients lay in blood-soaked sheets within their hospital beds. Hospital volunteer Kiness Abu Motab highlighted the brutal targeting of patients, suggesting their only "crime" was belonging to a minority group in a state professing democracy. Local English teacher Osama Malak voiced outrage over the moral depravity of the attacks, recounting how a disabled boy was shot in the head while resting in bed.
Despite conflicting claims from all factions involved in the conflict, it remains unclear how many were killed during the violent encounter; estimates range from 300 fatalities, but exact numbers cannot yet be verified. In response to public outcries, the Syrian defense ministry has acknowledged reports of severe violations committed by individuals in military attire and announced intentions to investigate all reported atrocities.
Access to Suweida is severely restricted, complicating efforts to gather firsthand evidence of the violence. The battle between Druze and Bedouin groups has left the city in a precarious state, under siege by government forces. Amid this turmoil, we encountered eight-year-old Hala al-Khatib, who bore visible signs of injury after being shot while hiding at home. Tragically, she remains unaware of her parents' fate amidst the chaos.
The United Nations continues to receive credible reports of summary executions throughout the region, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis facing the people of Syria as violence escalates in the streets of Suweida.
