In the southern Syrian province of Suweida, alarming reports have emerged of a brutal massacre alleged to have been carried out by government forces during recent sectarian violence. Staff at Suweida's National Hospital share horrifying details of what they claim was an unprovoked attack on vulnerable patients.
Dr. Wissam Massoud, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, states, “It was a massacre.” Witnesses recalled that Syrian soldiers entered the facility, claiming they sought to bring peace, but instead shot countless patients, from infants to the elderly, while they lay defenseless in their beds.
The grim scene within the hospital is harrowing; the smell of death permeates the air, with decomposing bodies lined up in white plastic bags and blood covering the floors. As Dr. Massoud provided a video documenting the aftermath, the devastation within was palpable—dozens of patients lifelessly bundled in blood-stained sheets.
Hospital volunteer Kiness Abu Motab expressed his dismay at the violence, questioning, “What is their crime? Just for being a minority in a democratic country?” Other residents, like teacher Osama Malak, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crimes, including the shocking account of an eight-year-old disabled boy being shot while in his bed.
As conflicting narratives swirl, there is a broader context of accusations in this ongoing conflict, with various groups claiming atrocities against one another. While some local estimates suggest over 300 could have been killed during the raid, these figures remain unverified.
The Syrian defense ministry commented on the reports, recognizing “shocking violations” by individuals in military attire, and assured that all claims of atrocities would undergo investigation. Access to Suweida, in essence under siege, complicates the situation further, with strict checkpoints limiting movement and obfuscating the facts.
The atmosphere in the city, which is predominantly Druze and houses over 70,000 residents, reflects a landscape of destruction evidenced by charred buildings and widespread displacement. Before our departure, we spoke with eight-year-old Hala al-Khatib, whose own story of survival amid chaos is striking; she sat bloodied and bandaged, unaware of her parents' tragic fate following a gunman's attack.
These horrific events bring to light the urgent need for accountability and transparency amid increasing violence and human suffering in Syria.
