"Islamic State" in Syria: The Suweida Massacre

In the end, when the horror is over, three bodies hang from a crane in front of a hospital in Suweida. The men, lynched by angry residents of the city, allegedly belonged to a terrorist group of the "Islamic State" (IS), which committed one of the worst mbadacres since the beginning of the civil war in Syria seven years earlier

. According to the Damascus government, at least 216 people were killed and 150 wounded in coordinated attacks on the provincial capital of southern Syria, Suweida, and several villages in the region. In addition, the terrorists reportedly kidnapped dozens of women and children. Their fate is hitherto uncertain. In fact, the full extent of the attack becomes apparent 24 hours later

Coordinated attacks began in the dark around four in the morning. The jihadists stormed several villages east of Suweida and surprised residents in their sleep. Survivors report that terrorists went from house to house and stabbed entire families. It took some time for local residents and security forces to ascertain the scale of the attack and attack the attackers.

Shortly after, two IS suicide bombers blew themselves up in the center of Suweida, killing dozens of civilians. Security forces reportedly killed two more badbadins, according to the government, before they could blow up their explosive vests.

Overall, the Syrian Army and the local militia took more than six hours to repel the attackers. Among other things, the army launched air strikes on the attacked villages. At least 45 jihadists were killed. Nevertheless, several ISIS commandos managed to escape and abduct hostages. Among the abductees were also four soldiers who were beheaded ever since.

IS terror against minorities

The authors came from a small enclave of EI north-east of Suweida. The territory at the edge of the desert is one of the last areas still controlled by the Islamic State in Syria.

Months after dictator Bashar al-Assad and his allies – Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hbadan Rohani – declared the ISIS defeated The jihadists have proved that they are still capable of Coordinated attacks on certain points.

The brutal actions of the terrorists are reminiscent of the Yazidis mbadacre by ISIS in Iraq in 2014. Even then, Islamist militants attacked villages and killed men. , abducted women and children. And then as now, terror targets a minority that considers the IS as outlawed. Because the province of Suweida is the main area of ​​settlement of the Druze in Syria.

The dilemma of the Druze

Religious community exists since the eleventh century and has developed from Shiite Islam. Radical Sunnis such as ISIS terrorists regard the Druze as infidels, who must be ruthlessly fought as long as they do not convert to Sunni Islam.

As a minority suspected by believers, the Druze experience a particularly strong sense of unity. They should only get married, it is not possible to convert to Drusentum. Thus, the Druze resemble the Alawites, the Shia minority of the Syrian dictatorial family of Assad. This is one of the reasons why most leaders of the Druze community in Syria have not openly opposed the regime.

Nevertheless, there is also great discontent among the Druze. In the aftermath of the civil war, the province of Suweida gained relative autonomy. The defense of the province is largely in the hands of the native militias equipped by the regime. In addition, however, the government army has largely withdrawn from the region. In return, most Druze have avoided participating in the civil war.

Pressure of the regime – and Moscow

However, with Assad now sure to win the Civil War, the regime is trying to bring Suweida back under full control. Several times, representatives of the Russian army have met in recent weeks with Druze dignitaries. Among other things, the Moscow delegation demanded that in future all the men of the provinces must again do their military service in the army.

Since Wednesday, the voices of Suwésiens accusing the regime have become more frequent in social networks. At least have favors against ISIS attacks – to persuade the Druze to bind themselves more strongly to the regime, because only the army can guarantee the security of the province.

During the funeral service of the victims of attacks Thursday, residents so many that the governor sent by the regime and the chief of police of the province had to leave the premises for security reasons.