Dire Situation in Suwayda After Withdrawal: Mass Executions, Crumbling Infrastructure, and Unchecked Plunder
Military Landscape and Ongoing Threats
Troops from the transitional government's "Ministry of Defense" began withdrawing from the city last evening, after having entered under the pretext of "security and public order." However, scattered armed pockets remain in residential neighborhoods, reportedly continuing to torch civilian homes and execute remaining residents. Local defense groups claim to have captured several militia members, including two foreign nationals, while the streets are littered with the bodies of executed civilians.
Ground Observations: The Scope of Executions
Suwayda24 correspondents report that at least ten civilians were found shot execution-style in a single neighborhood. The city's streets, vehicles, and homes reveal a grim tapestry of indiscriminate killings—women, children, and older people among the victims. Verified social media footage depicts Ministry of Defense troops conducting mass shootings of civilians in Tishrin Square. The scenes in the city center point unmistakably to war crimes.
Infrastructure Collapse and Vital Shortages
Electricity has been out in approximately 80% of the province for four days; water wells without generators have ceased functioning, and drinking water supplies are rapidly depleting. The National Hospital, the region's largest healthcare facility, is completely inoperative due to battle damage and a lack of supplies. Gas stations are empty, markets are closed, and essential food supplies are depleted. Hundreds of homes have been burned, with guesthouses and village lodgings overflowing with displaced families, while many others desperately await emergency shelter.
National Hospital Crisis
Since Tuesday morning, the hospital has been under military control after being raided by a unit. Medical staff are held hostage inside, deprived of food and water. Witnesses confirm the execution of two volunteer medics and several wounded civilians within the hospital corridors. The building, rendered unusable by armored vehicles and RPG strikes, makes evacuation of the injured impossible. Morgues and hallways overflow with bodies, presenting a harrowing scene.
Wave of Plunder
Documented reports reveal systematic looting in neighborhoods entered under the guise of "security operations" by retreating troops. Live broadcasts show uniformed soldiers loading household items onto trucks and ransacking jewelry stores. Locals describe the situation as "plunder rather than warfare," with surviving civilians returning to devastated, emptied homes.
Diplomatic Statements and Inadequate Response
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed, "Progress has been made to end conflicts in southern Syria," yet ground realities remain unchanged. While international organizations express hope for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, no confirmation has yet emerged. Local NGOs and diaspora groups are preparing formal appeals to the United Nations to declare Suwayda a "disaster zone."
Critical Threshold in the Next 24 Hours
Without a complete clearance of military pockets in the city, fears of new waves of executions loom large. Continued power and water outages heighten the risk of disease outbreaks, while the full extent of burnt homes threatens to deepen the housing crisis. Immediate, decisive intervention by international actors to secure corridors for electricity, water, food, and medical evacuations is vital to prevent the catastrophe in Suwayda from escalating further.
Photo: Suwayda24, Facebook