US citizens killed under eight druze family members in Syria

US citizens killed under eight druze family members in Syria

A US citizen from Oklahoma was among the eight men who were killed in an execution-like attack during the recently flared sectarian violence in Syria. Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American citizen, was identified by his friend Bahaa Imad and a relative from the USA as one of the victims. The cruel deeds were recorded in a video that was spread on social media last weekend.

Details of the attack

The video, which CNN is geolocalized, shows a group of armed men in military uniforms and with facial masks that shoot on eight captured men and call "God is big". CNN cannot check the identity of the shooters seeing in the video independently and has asked the Syrian government to comment.

According to a US converted who wants to remain anonymous, Saraya's brother Kareem and other family members were also executed. The female members of the family survived and reported that the militants entered the family's multi -storey house early, which caused the residents to defend themselves. After a family member was injured, the others gave up their weapons and the men were brought outside.

testimony

Bahaa Imad, a 20-year-old friend of the Saraya family, confirmed the events and spoke of the fact that he saw how the militants stormed the house and violently removed eight men while the female family members stayed inside.

One of the survivors sent the US relatives a desperate message: "Pray for us, they kidnapped the boys, they shot at the house and stole things." Twelve hours passed while the family hoped that their relatives would return unscathed. Only when another relative saw the pictures of execution abroad did they realize that the eight men had been killed.

reactions and compensation

Imad reported that the hostages were marched 200 meters to the Tishreen-Platz, where they were set up and executed. One of the men had sent a last message to friends who said: "Come and help us if you can. They surrounded us." Imad identified the body of Hosam Saraya after seeing the video.

"I don't know how monsters can do something like this," said the US relative in an interview with CNN. The US State Department confirmed the death of an American citizen in Suwayda on Monday, but made no more precise information and expressed great concern about cases in which US citizens were damaged abroad. In all cases in which US citizens are violated abroad.

political reactions

The senators from Oklahoma, James Lankford and Markwayne Mulllin also confirmed the death of an American from the state of Syria. "Hosam was an Oklahoman and a member of the Druze community, which tragically was executed together with other family members in Syria," wrote Lankford on X. "We pray for his family, friends and the entire community while they mourn this senseless loss." Mullin added that a "US citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed with his family members in Syria" and reported that he worked with partners in the region to learn more.

The widespread violence between the druze minority and Bedouin trunks in southern Syria broke out on July 13th and demanded hundreds of dead. This is the latest explosion of sectarian violence since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian rule through a coalition of Islamist rebels.

international reactions

Violence led to an intervention of Israel to support the druzes as well as to a US conviction and an international effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict. The Syrian government said at the weekend that the fights in Suwayda were stopped after a ceasefire agreement between the government, druze groups and Bedouin tribes. A separate ceasefire was agreed between Syria and Israel. The deal was announced by Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, who explained that it was "accepted" by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries.