British News Agency

After clashes between armed Druze groups and Bedouin tribes, violence erupted in southern Syria in July. More than 2,000 people are believed to have been killed, including 789 Druze civilians who were summarily executed.

The Damascus government stated that its forces intervened to stop the violence, but some witnesses, journalists, and monitoring organizations claim that government forces sided with the Bedouins and attacked the Druze.

Amnesty International stated: "These executions carried out by the regime and its armed forces took place in squares, apartment buildings, schools, a hospital, and a conference hall." The group added that it possesses videos showing armed men in military and security uniforms executing unarmed people.

Amnesty International also reported that at least four individuals seen in the videos wore black badges usually associated with ISIS. ISIS did not claim responsibility for any of the attacks in Sweida. Three of them were observed clashing with government security personnel.

Diana Semaa, Amnesty International’s Syria expert, said: "When security forces or military forces deliberately and unlawfully kill people, that constitutes extrajudicial execution." Semaa called on the government to launch an independent and transparent investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.