Syria footage portrays armed men firing directly at hospital helper in combat attire at close proximity
The CCTV footage, recorded on July 16, 2025, inside Sweida's main hospital in southern Syria, captures a harrowing scene of men in military fatigues executing an unarmed hospital worker at point-blank range. The incident occurred during intense fighting between Druze militias, Arab Bedouin tribal groups, and government forces in Sweida city.
In the video, men in camouflage clothing are seen apprehending a man in medical scrubs, who is later shot twice—once with a rifle and once with a pistol. The lifeless body is then dragged away. Eyewitnesses and activist groups claim the gunmen are affiliated with Syrian military and security forces, although the government has not yet confirmed their identities.
The Syrian Interior Ministry has denounced and condemned the incident, promising to hold those involved accountable and punish them. The ministry's statement comes as the Syrian government faces its worst crisis since the toppling of former dictator Bashar al Assad, with the violent clashes in Sweida plunging the new authorities into turmoil.
The mainly Druze city of Sweida was the scene of violent clashes, looting, and executions last month, resulting in over 1,000 deaths. The clashes have drawn global condemnation due to the shooting of medical personnel and the broader context of human rights abuses amid the Syrian conflict.
Dr Obeida Abu Fakher, a doctor present during the incident, called the men "terrorists" and stated that peace cannot be achieved with them. Mustafa Sehnawi, a survivor and American citizen, accused the Syrian government of sending troops who killed people in Sweida.
The new Syrian president, Ahmed al Sharaa, is due to attend the United Nations General Assembly next month, and the events in Sweida are expected to be a topic of discussion. The new Syrian government troops were accused of partaking in the atrocities they were sent in to quell.
As the investigation into the incident continues, the international community is closely watching the Syrian government's response to this horrific act and its commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability for those responsible.
- The harrowing execution of a hospital worker in Sweida's main hospital was not only a crime and a gross violation of human rights, but it also adds another layer to the complicated politics and general news surrounding war-and-conflicts in Syria.
- The events in Sweida, including the execution of a hospital worker and the violent clashes, highlight the dire state of crime-and-justice and human rights abuses in Syria, casting a shadow over the new Syrian government's commitment to peace and stability.
