Syrian Observatory: Field execution toll in Sweida rises to 248
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Sweida is under siege: sniper fire, drone strikes, and shelling continue as civilians remain trapped without power, internet, or access to medical aid.
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A boy who was injured in Sweida city during clashes between the Syrian new administration forces and Druze militias, lies inside an ambulance in Busra al-Harir village, southern Syria, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 (AP)
The death toll in Sweida has surged to at least 248 amid ongoing military operations, field executions, and worsening humanitarian conditions, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense have continued heavy bombardment on the city and its outskirts since midnight Tuesday, using artillery, mortars, and drones to strike both Sweida and the nearby village of Sahwat al-Blata.
In the latest developments, the Observatory confirmed that tribal fighters and regime-affiliated forces have relaunched a major assault, advancing from the Maqous area into central Sweida. Clashes are now concentrated around Tishreen Square and surrounding neighborhoods, with reports of hit-and-run engagements and sniper activity. Two snipers linked to the Ministry of Defense are reportedly positioned in central Sweida, exacerbating the threat to civilians.
The Observatory has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate the evacuation of civilians trapped under bombardment. The entire region remains under a total electricity and internet blackout, making communication and coordination for relief efforts nearly impossible.
Civilian deaths and executions mount
Since July 13, the Observatory has documented 248 deaths, including 21 civilians, among them three women, executed on the spot by forces tied to the Ministries of Defense and Interior. Among the fatalities are 71 Sweida residents, including four children and two women, as well as 156 regime-affiliated personnel, including 18 Bedouins.
Eyewitnesses and local sources describe gruesome scenes of home invasions, looting, and summary executions in broad daylight. As indiscriminate shelling continues, civilians have been unable to retrieve bodies or evacuate the wounded, many of whom are left to bleed out in the streets due to sniper fire and collapsed infrastructure.
Sweida National Hospital Under Siege
The humanitarian crisis has deepened at Sweida National Hospital, where shelling has struck nearby areas, making access nearly impossible. Medical teams have been working non-stop for over 72 hours with minimal supplies, no electricity, and a growing influx of wounded civilians.
Sources within the Syrian Observatory warn that the security situation around the hospital is “highly dangerous,” particularly along the Citadel–Tishreen Square road, which has become impassable due to sniper activity. The hospital is now entirely cut off, prompting fears of an imminent collapse in essential medical services.
Looting and Calls for De-escalation
The Observatory also reported that military vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Defense were seen leaving Sweida loaded with civilian-owned property, adding to mounting allegations of looting amid the chaos.
As the situation in Sweida deteriorates, calls for an immediate halt to hostilities have intensified. Local figures and humanitarian organizations are demanding the creation of safe corridors, urgent medical relief, and protection for civilians and healthcare personnel.
Sheikh al-Hijri appeals to US, 'Israel' to stop ‘genocide’ in Sweida
Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri issued an urgent appeal on Wednesday to US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, calling for immediate international intervention to halt what he described as a 'genocidal campaign' in the city of Sweida.
“Our people are being massacred in cold blood, and the killer does not distinguish between child or elder,” the statement declared.
The prominent Druze cleric condemned the new Syrian regime’s military crackdown, stating that “the mask has fallen from the face of the ruling regime,” and placed full humanitarian and moral responsibility on the international community for its failure to act.
The statement also urged Sunni religious authorities and communities to “take a clear position on what is happening to their Syrian brothers,” warning, “We can no longer live under a regime that governs only through iron and fire.”
Former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, called on Tuesday on Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, to take a “historic stance” and reveal the identities of those who pressured him, arguing that the time has come to put an end to wavering positions.
Jumblatt also acknowledged positive engagement from what he described as "national Arab factions" in Sweida, despite some violations. He advocated for a full reconciliation process with Bedouin tribes, including the handover of weapons and integration into a broader national settlement.
