The situation in Suweida City has dramatically deteriorated, with claims of a massacre at the National Hospital, where witnesses and medical staff allege Syrian government forces shot patients in their beds during sectarian violence. Reports indicate hundreds may have been killed, raising urgent calls for an investigation.
Claims of Atrocities Emerge as Violence Escalates in Suweida Hospital
Claims of Atrocities Emerge as Violence Escalates in Suweida Hospital
Eyewitness reports suggest a massacre at a hospital in Suweida City, Syria, as violence erupts in the Druze-majority region amid ongoing sectarian clashes.
The recent surge in violence in southern Syria's Druze-majority Suweida province has raised significant alarm, particularly concerning allegations of a massacre at a local hospital. Eyewitnesses and medical personnel have accused Syrian government forces of executing patients within the wards of the National Hospital amid rising sectarian tensions.
Upon visiting the hospital, the grim scene was palpable. Outside, numerous corpses lay in white plastic bags, with the air thick with the stench of death. Dr. Wissam Massoud, a neurosurgeon at the facility, described the events as a "massacre." According to him, soldiers arrived claiming to restore peace but instead indiscriminately killed many patients, ranging from young children to the elderly.
A hospital volunteer, Kiness Abu Motab, recounted that the victims were targeted simply for their minority status within what is ostensibly a democratic framework. Community members expressed deep mistrust towards the authorities, with residents like Osama Malak condemning the indiscriminate killings, including the horrifying account of an eight-year-old disabled boy shot in the head.
Although allegations of atrocities have been leveled against multiple factions in the ongoing conflict, including Druze fighters and the Syrian Army, the precise events surrounding the hospital attack remain unclear. Estimates of the death toll have reached as high as 300 but lack independent verification.
In light of these troubling accusations, the Syrian defense ministry has acknowledged reports of "shocking violations" occurring in Suweida. However, access to the city is heavily restricted, complicating efforts to ascertain accurate information. As government forces impose stringent checkpoints, obtaining firsthand accounts becomes increasingly challenging.
Despite the chaos, Suweida City still stands under the control of its Druze inhabitants, while violent clashes continue to besiege the region. As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, civilians like eight-year-old Hala Al Khatib are caught in the crossfire, bearing the physical and emotional scars of this brutal conflict.
