Syria’s Druze grieve amid sectarian violence with Bedouin tribes

Hatem Radwan stared at the bloodstained floor and cushions in the Al-Radwan guest house in Syria’s Druze city of Sweida, still wondering how he survived the shooting spree more than a week ago that killed his relatives and friends.

“I’m not sleeping. I wish I would have died; it would have been better for me,” the 70-year-old said, stating two of his sons-in-law and his daughter’s father-in-law were killed when armed men stormed into the guest house on July 16.

Hundreds of people were killed in days of sectarian violence in Syria’s Sweida province, where government forces were sent to quell clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes.

Syria’s defence ministry on July 22 said it would investigate reports of an “unknown group” in military fatigues committing “shocking and gross violations” in Sweida and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The interior ministry condemned “the circulating videos showing field executions carried out by unidentified individuals in the city of Sweida,” and also pledged to conduct a probe.

Residents, monitoring groups and reporters in the province said the violence intensified after security forces deployed, reporting several cases of execution-style killings.