Amnesty International has demanded that the Syrian authorities take legal action against its security and military personnel, along with allied groups, following what it termed the intentional killing of Druze civilians in the southern Suwayda province.
The human rights organization revealed that newly gathered evidence, including verified video footage and witness accounts from 15 relatives and eyewitnesses, shows that government troops and affiliated forces carried out executions on July 15 and 16 in Suwayda city and surrounding areas. These actions followed the imposition of a curfew and the deployment of soldiers.
According to the rights group, 46 Druze individuals—44 men and two women—were deliberately shot dead, and two elderly residents were subjected to mock executions. The killings occurred in various locations, including a public square, private homes, a school, a hospital, and a ceremonial hall.
A woman whose two brothers and nephew were among the victims described the incident, saying that armed men in military uniforms entered their home, dragged the men outside, and shot them near a nearby building. “They killed us in cold blood,” she recounted.
Sana Kikhia, executive director of the Syrian Legal Development Programme, a nonprofit that focuses on legal and human rights issues, stressed that the massacres expose the state’s failure to protect life and prevent unlawful deaths. She noted that when security or military forces deliberately kill unlawfully, or when affiliated groups act with government approval, it constitutes an extrajudicial execution, which is a violation of international law.
Diana Semaan, Amnesty International’s Syria researcher, added that the brutality in Suwayda is a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of impunity for sectarian violence in the country, which has encouraged government and allied forces to kill without fear of consequences.
Tensions in the region escalated earlier in July, when Druze armed groups clashed with Bedouin tribal fighters on July 11 and 12. On July 15, the Syrian military entered the city, declaring its intention to restore order. Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas later acknowledged “shocking and serious violations” committed by unidentified individuals wearing military uniforms in the area.
Kikhia stated that investigative bodies have been formed to probe the massacres, and the local fact-finding committee has announced the arrest of several alleged perpetrators. However, she emphasized that accountability will be meaningful only if these processes are independent, impartial, transparent, and adhere to international norms. She warned that without credible accountability and structural reform, impunity will persist, allowing future crimes to occur. “Syrians of all communities have the right to truth, justice, and guarantees of non-recurrence, regardless of who the perpetrator is,” she concluded.