Latest news with #AbdulQaderAl-Tahhan
2 days ago
- Politics
Security footage from Syria hospital shows men in military garb killing medical worker
DAMASCUS, Syria -- Footage from security cameras at a hospital in the city of Sweida in southern Syria published Sunday showed what appears to be the killing of a medical worker by men in military garb. The video published by activist media collective Suwayda 24 was dated July 16, during intense clashes between militias of the Druze minority community and armed tribal groups and government forces. In the video, which was also widely shared on social media, a large group of people in scrubs can be seen kneeling on the floor in front of a group of armed men. The armed men grab a man and hit him on the head as if they are going to apprehend him. The man tries to resist by wrestling with one of the gunmen, before he is shot once with an assault rifle and then a second time by another person with a pistol. A man in a dark jumpsuit with 'Internal Security Forces' written on it appears to be guiding the men in camouflage into the hospital. Another security camera shows a tank stationed outside the facility. Activist media groups say the gunmen were from the Syrian military and security forces. A Syrian government official said they could not immediately identify the attackers in the video, and are investigating the incident to try to figure out if they are government-affiliated personnel or gunmen from tribal groups. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not immediately cleared to speak to the media on the matter. Syria's Interior Ministry, in a statement posted by state-run news agency SANA, said Deputy Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan was assigned to oversee the investigation "to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible.' 'We condemn and denounce this act in the strongest terms, and we affirm that the perpetrators will be held accountable and brought to justice to receive their just punishment, regardless of their affiliations," the statement said. The government last month set up a committee tasked with investigating attacks on civilians during the sectarian violence in the country's south, which is supposed to issue a report within three months. The incident at the Sweida National Hospital further exacerbates tensions between the Druze minority community and the Syrian government, after clashes in July between Druze and armed Bedouin groups sparked targeted sectarian attacks against them. The violence has worsened ties between them and Syria's Islamist-led interim government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who hopes to assert full government control and disarm Druze factions. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, government forces have surrounded the southern city and the Druze have said that little aid is going into the battered city, calling it a siege. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which has organized aid convoys into Sweida, said in a statement on Saturday that one of those convoys that was carrying aid in the day before 'came under direct fire,' and some of its vehicles were damaged. It did not specify which group attacked the convoy. On Sunday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a statement expressing 'deep concern' at the violence in southern Syria and condemning violence against civilians in Sweida. It called for the government to 'ensure credible, swift, transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations.' The statement also reiterated 'obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transportation and equipment, as well as hospitals and medical facilities.' It expressed concern about "foreign terrorist fighters" in Syria, while calling on 'all states to refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country,' an apparent message to Israel, which intervened in last month's conflict on the side of the Druze, launching airstrikes on Syrian government forces.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Viral Video: Chilling footage shows 'execution' of medical staff at Syria hospital
A purported video clip shows, what appears to be, a few men in military garb killing a medical worker at a hospital in the city of Sweida in southern Syria. Mint could not verify the authenticity of the clip. The video was published by activist media collective Suwayda 24. The groups said the gunmen were from the Syrian military and security forces, news agency Associated Press reported. The incident was caught on security cameras installed at the hospital. The clip dated July 16 showed a group of armed men forcing staff in a Syrian hospital to kneel, and then they 'executed' one of them who resisted. In the video, which was widely shared on social media, a large group of people in scrubs could be seen kneeling on the floor in front of a group of armed men. A few moments later, the armed men grab a man and hit him on the head as if they are going to apprehend him. The man tries to resist by wrestling with one of the gunmen, before he is shot once with an assault rifle and then a second time by another person with a pistol. In the video, a man in a dark jumpsuit with 'Internal Security Forces' written appears to be guiding the men in camouflage into the hospital. Another security camera shows a tank stationed outside the facility, news agency Associated Press reported. A Syrian government official was quoted by Associated Press as saying that they could not immediately identify the attackers in the video, and are investigating the incident to try to figure out if they are government-affiliated personnel or gunmen from tribal groups. In a statement posted by state-run news agency SANA, Syria's Interior Ministry said Deputy Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan was assigned to oversee the investigation "to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible.' 'We condemn and denounce this act in the strongest terms, and we affirm that the perpetrators will be held accountable and brought to justice to receive their just punishment, regardless of their affiliations," the statement read. The government had last month set up a committee tasked with investigating attacks on civilians during the sectarian violence in the country's south, which is supposed to issue a report within three months. The video was shot amid the intense clashes between militias of the Druze minority community and armed tribal groups and government forces. The incident at the Sweida National Hospital exacerbates tensions between the Druze minority community and the Syrian government, after clashes in July between Druze and armed Bedouin groups targeted sectarian attacks against them. The violence has worsened ties between them and Syria's Islamist-led interim government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who hopes to assert full government control and disarm Druze factions. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, government forces have surrounded the southern city and the Druze have said that little aid is going into the battered city, calling it a siege.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Gunmen storm Syria hospital: Medic assaulted, shot at point-blank by armed men; video shows cold-blooded execution
A shocking video has emerged from Syria, where armed men in military garb were seen shooting a medical worker at point-blank range. According to news agency AP, the viral footage, published Sunday, captured the horrifying scene at a hospital in Sweida city in southern Syria. The incident appeared to have happened on July 16, as per AP, during clashes between militias of the Druze minority community and armed tribal groups and government forces. The footage published by activist media collective Suwayda 24, a large group of people in scrubs kneeling on the floor and group of armed men standing in front of them. The armed men grab a man and hit him on the head. It appeared that the armed men were going to apprehend the man, but he resisted by wrestling with one of the gunmen. Suddenly, he was shot by an assault rifle and then a second time by another person with a pistol. A man wearing a dark jumpsuit with "Internal Security Forces" written on the back appears to lead the camouflaged gunmen into the facility. Another camera shows a tank stationed just outside the hospital entrance. Activists claim the attackers were Syrian military and security personnel. But a Syrian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities had not yet confirmed their identity, adding that investigations were underway to determine whether the assailants were affiliated with the government or tribal factions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo The interior ministry said deputy minister of interior for security affairs Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan has been assigned to oversee the inquiry 'to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible.' "We condemn and denounce this act in the strongest terms," the ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, vowing that those responsible would be brought to justice "regardless of their affiliations."
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Security video from Syria hospital shows men in military garb killing medical worker
DAMASCUS, Syria — Video from security cameras at a hospital in the embattled southern Syrian city of Sweida published Sunday showed what appears to be the killing of a medical worker by men in military garb. The video published by activist media collective Suwayda 24 was dated July 16, during intense clashes between militias from the Druze community and armed Bedouin tribal groups and government forces. In the video, which was widely shared on social media, a large cluster of people in scrubs can be seen kneeling on the floor in front of a group of armed men. The armed men grab a man and hit him on the head as if they are going to apprehend him. The man tries to resist by wrestling with one of the gunmen, before he is shot once with an assault rifle and then a second time by another person with a pistol. A man in a dark jumpsuit with 'Internal Security Forces' written on it appears to be guiding the men in camouflage into the hospital. Another security camera shows a tank stationed outside the facility. Activist media groups say the gunmen were from the Syrian military and security forces. A Syrian government official said they could not immediately identify the attackers in the video and are investigating the incident to try to figure out if they are government-affiliated personnel or gunmen from tribal groups. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not immediately cleared to speak to the media on the matter. Syria's Interior Ministry, in a statement posted by state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, said Deputy Minister of Interior for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan was assigned to oversee the investigation 'to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible.' 'We condemn and denounce this act in the strongest terms, and we affirm that the perpetrators will be held accountable and brought to justice to receive their just punishment, regardless of their affiliations,' the statement said. The government last month set up a committee tasked with investigating attacks on civilians during the sectarian violence in the country's south, which is supposed to issue a report within three months. The incident at the Sweida National Hospital exacerbates tensions between the Druze community and the Syrian government, after clashes in July between Druze and armed Bedouin groups sparked targeted sectarian attacks against them. The Druze are a minority group in Syria, but are the majority in Sweida. The violence has worsened ties between them and Syria's Islamist-led interim government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who hopes to assert full government control and disarm Druze factions. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, government forces have surrounded the southern city and the Druze have said that little aid is going into the battered city, calling it a siege. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which has organized aid convoys into Sweida, said in a statement Saturday that one of those convoys that was carrying aid in the day before 'came under direct fire,' and some of its vehicles were damaged. It did not specify which group attacked the convoy. On Sunday, the United Nations Security Council adopted a statement expressing 'deep concern' at the violence in southern Syria and condemning violence against civilians in Sweida. It called for the government to 'ensure credible, swift, transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations.' The statement also reiterated 'obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transportation and equipment, as well as hospitals and medical facilities.' It expressed concern about 'foreign terrorist fighters' in Syria, while calling on 'all states to refrain from any action or interference that may further destabilize the country,' an apparent message to Israel, which intervened in last month's conflict on the side of the Druze, launching airstrikes on Syrian government forces. Alsayed and Chehayeb write for the Associated Press and reported from Damascus and Beirut, respectively. AP writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chilling Syria hospital video shows staff kneel before gunmen, 1 killed at point-blank for resisting
A disturbing undated video doing the rounds on social media appears to show Syrian government loyalists executing hospital staff in Sweida, a city where intense clashes broke out between militias of the Druze minority community and armed tribal groups last month. The video published by activist media collective Suwayda 24 was dated July 16. (X/@suwayda24) The footage, reportedly filmed inside Sweida National Hospital, shows a group of men in medical uniforms kneeling on the floor with armed men standing over them – identified as members of the Syrian defence and interior ministries. The video published by activist media collective Suwayda 24 was dated July 16. In the video, a man in a dark jumpsuit with 'Internal Security Forces' written on it appears to be guiding the men in camouflage into the hospital. Another security camera shows a tank outside the facility. Activist media groups say the gunmen were from the Syrian military and security forces. Things escalate in the video when one detainee, slapped in the face by an armed man, appears to resist. He is immediately shot twice at close range. More gunfire follows, with several others collapsing to the ground. HT could not independently verify the authenticity or timing of the video. The incident is believed to have occurred amid fierce clashes in Sweida city, which began in July between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and local eyewitnesses, government forces initially entered Sweida to impose a ceasefire, but later sided with Bedouin militias against the Druze. Syria's interior ministry, in a statement posted by state-run news agency SANA, said deputy minister of interior for security affairs Maj Gen Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan was assigned to oversee the investigation "to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible.' 'We condemn and denounce this act in the strongest terms, and we affirm that the perpetrators will be held accountable and brought to justice to receive their just punishment, regardless of their affiliations," Associated Press quoted the statement. Despite government recapture of Druze-populated villages in the surrounding region, the city of Sweida – home to over 70,000 people – remains under Druze control. On Saturday, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, condemned the violence and called for an international inquiry into the hospital incident and wider conflict in the city. In a televised statement, he demanded international accountability: 'Those responsible must be brought before the International Criminal Court,' he said, urging deployment of international observers to safeguard civilians.
