In recent reports from Suweida City, Syria, claims have surfaced detailing horrific incidents at a local hospital, where Syrian government forces are accused of murdering patients during violent sectarian confrontations. Medical staff at the National Hospital describe devastating scenes, reinforcing fears of a systematic targeting of the Druze community.
Dr. Wissam Massoud, a neurosurgeon at the facility, recounted the grim atmosphere outside the hospital, where decomposing bodies lay in white plastic bags contaminated by blood. "It was a massacre," he stated, highlighting the shocking reality of patients—both young and elderly—being executed in their beds.
A volunteer named Kiness Abu Motab emphasized the systemic targeting mentality surrounding the minority group’s plight. "What is their crime? Just for being a minority in a democratic country?" he lamented. Osama Malak, a local teacher, shared a harrowing account of an eight-year-old disabled child shot to death, asserting that international law protecting medical facilities had been egregiously violated.
While all parties involved in the conflict have alleged atrocities against one another, reports suggest a staggering death toll from the hospital raid, with some estimates exceeding 300, although this figure remains unverified. In a response, the Syrian defense ministry acknowledged "shocking violations" by individuals in military uniform.
It is worth noting that access to Suweida has been heavily restricted, complicating efforts to gather accurate on-ground reports. The city has been under siege, governor forces imposing control over who enters and exits the region. Despite opposition from military forces, the Druze community retains control of the city, which houses over 70,000 residents.
As an example of the brutality faced, eight-year-old Hala al-Khatib was found injured, having lost an eye after being shot while hiding in fear. Tragically, she remains unaware of the death of her parents amid the chaos engulfing her neighborhood.
