A U.S. citizen was killed amid sectarian clashes in Southern Syria, as Ben Wedeman reports.

As Suwayda

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Sectarian clashes in the southern Syrian city of As Suwayda have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, including civilians and fighters, and forced more than 90,000 residents to flee their homes. The violence erupted between Druze militias seeking autonomy and Bedouin tribesmen aligned with the central government, with reports of abuses committed by all parties involved.

Among those killed was Hossam Saraya, a U.S. citizen, prompting the U.S. State Department to call for accountability. International efforts led to a fragile ceasefire, but not before Israeli airstrikes targeted the region in support of the Druze community. The situation remains tense, with Syrian authorities pledging justice for those responsible for the violence.

Hundreds killed in days of sectarian clashes in Syria

Shouting, Allah Akbar, God is great, the unidentified gunman appeared triumphant, marching through the streets of the southern Syrian city of Suedo with prisoners, men from the Druze minority, all members of the same family. We wanted to offer you safety, but you refused to leave, someone shouts out of view. Relatives of the captives told CNN they had fought back against the gunman when their home was surrounded, but surrendered after one of them was wounded. The person who shot the phone video passes by a bullet-pocked car, a dead man lies across the front seats. Another clip shows the captives on their knees. Dogs, someone shouts, and then a hail of machine gun fire for 15 seconds. All eight captives were killed. Among the dead, Hossam Saraya, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen who had studied in Oklahoma before returning to Syria. The U.S. State Department confirmed Monday an American citizen had died in Suedo, providing no further details, but added it was greatly concerned when any U.S. citizen is harmed overseas wherever they are, and called for accountability in all cases where U.S. citizens are harmed abroad. The execution in Suedo is just a small snapshot of the madness that has since the 13th of July engulfed this part of southern Syria, where various Druze militia, which seek limited autonomy from Damascus, have battled Bedouin tribesmen loosely aligned with the central government. The fighting has left hundreds dead, civilians as well as fighters, and has forced more than 90,000 people to flee their homes. Tuesday, Human Rights Watch issued a report claiming all sides, Bedouin and Druze fighters as well as government forces, have committed abuses. A Ministry of Interior spokesman tells CNN, such acts are absolutely unacceptable to us, and those who committed them will face justice. U.S., Turkish and Arab diplomats pushed through a shaky ceasefire, but not before Israel entered the fray, bombing targets in Suedo and Damascus in defense, it claimed, of the Druze. While the fighting raged, hundreds of Druze from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Israel proper crossed into Syria in support of the community in Suedo. Last week, interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in a televised address, we are all partners in this land, and we will not allow any group to distort this beautiful image that expresses Syria and its diversity, a diversity now more precarious than ever before. Ben Wiedman, CNN, Rome.

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Hundreds killed in days of sectarian clashes in Syria

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Middle East Conflict