File image.
Surveillance camera footage have revealed mass looting by the forces of the Syrian Islamist-led interim government and affiliated Bedouins during the battle against Druze fighters in the southern governorate of al-Suwayda in July.
The government dispatched its forces to al-Suwayda to break a conflict between the Druze and Sunni Bedouins that broke out on July 13. However, the forces ended up backing the Bedouins and attempting to take over al-Suwayda city.
Israel intervened in support of the Druze, citing its historical relations with its own Druze community. The United States brokered a ceasefire on July 16. However, Bedouins from all over the country gathered to attack Druze fighters. The clashes came to a halt only a few days later.
Druze fighters maintained control over al-Suwayda city along with nearly all of its eastern and southern countryside. Meanwhile, government forces held into most of the northern and western countryside of the governorate. Since then, al-Suwayda has been under siege.
The looting footage, all recorded in the city of al-Suwayda after the intervention of government forces, were released for the first time by Suwayda 24 news blog on August 14 and 15.
One video shows what appears to be a group Bedouin fighters looting an electronic store on July 14. When fighters from another group enter the shop and attempt to take a phone, an argument breaks out and they are told to be “smart” and look for another shop.
Another video from July 16 shows what appears to be drunken Bedouin fighters smashing bottles of alcoholic drinks while videotaping themselves.
Looting was not limited to valuables. Photos from July 16 showed a group of uniformed troops, including one with an ISIS flag patch, looting a small shop. The troops are seen looking for cash behind the counter, and even taking bags of chips and candy bars.
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Photos showing the aftermath reveal that most of the shop was looted. The very little that remained was apparently destroyed by the troops.
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Click to see full-size image. (Suwayda 24\X)
Reports of mass looting began to surface just a few hours after the government dispatched its forces to al-Suwayda on July 14. At the time, the Ministry of Defense said that the Military Police was sent to the governorate to crackdown on looters. The reality was very different, however.
One of the videos shared by Suwayda 24 shows uniformed Military Police personnel, with their distinctive red berets, breaking into an electronic store, and stealing most of the phones there in just two minutes.
Of course, looting was by far the least of the violations committed by government forces and affiliated Bedouins during the battle in al-Suwayda.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group, the battle in al-Suwayda claimed the lives of 1,653 people, including at least 429 Druze civilians who were executed on sectarian basis by government fighters and Bedouins.
Other serious violations, including torture, abduction and sexual assault, were also reported. The government said that it had launched an investigation. However, it is very doubtful that anything meaningful will come out of the process considering how nothing changed after the massacres on the coast last March where over 1,400 Alawite civilians were executed by government forces.
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the jews must save the druze.
the jews cannot save themselves from hamas. billions of dollars, lives, vehicles and even selling themselves to satan, they couldn’t conquer a neighborhood what a shame.
they already have wiped 90% of hamas
the jews cannot save themselves, let alone anybody else
the terrorists in charge of syria are a sad reflection of the arab world today
when it comes down to the truth, thiefs they all are
muslims acting like muslims? madness
did alawites, who are supposedly educated and smart, hand over their weapons to such gangs? my pigs are not as stupid as alawites, so i will sue syria in court, demanding compensation from hts for calling alawites pigs.
entire alawite hills will roll into the valley when it rains, because there are no more roots. now i don’t know if these stupid people will feel sorry by anyone.
considering that they handed over their weapons to such gangs, it is right that they roll into the valley along with the landslide. and all the green hills will become white hills.