Syria: Clashes, bombardments in Al-Suwayda leave 360 dead

DAMASCUS, July 17 (YPA) –  Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense began withdrawing from violence-hit Al-Suwayda Governorate, on Wednesday after Israeli strikes on Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported.

This comes after approximately 90 hours of intense clashes that took place in the city and its surroundings, which included field executions and serious violations against civilians and local fighters.

SOHR confirmed that the withdrawal comes amid escalating security tensions, following a wide-scale military escalation that included shelling, direct confrontations, and bombing of civilian areas.

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities in armed clashes, exchange of bombardment and extrajudicial executions in different areas in Al- Suwayda province since Sunday morning, July 13, has increased to 360; they are distributed as follows:

107 people from Al- Suwayda, including four children and four women.

207 members of Syria’s Ministry of Defense and General Security, including 18 from Bedouin tribes

15 military personnel from the Ministries of Defense and Interior killed in Israeli airstrikes.

3 individuals, including one woman and two unidentified victims, killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Ministry of Defense building.

One journalist killed during the clashes in Al-Suwayda.

27 individuals, including four women and an elderly man, executed in the field by members of the Ministries of Defense and Interior.

The Syrian Observatory sounded alarm over the grave violations committed during the military operations, warning of their potential to ignite wider violence and instability across Syria.

“What has occurred in Al-Suwayda is a dangerous alarm bell that signals an escalation of violence and deteriorating security amid a continued absence of accountability,” the organization stated.

@E.Y.M