International Investigation Committee Visits As-Suwayda for the Second Time to Hear Testimonies on July Events

The International Commission of Inquiry on Syria entered the city of As-Suwayda for the second time today, Sunday, as part of its ongoing investigations into the violations that took place in the governorate during the events of July.

Local sources told Al-Madaniya website that the committee held meetings with several residents of western As-Suwayda countryside who were displaced to the city, where it heard testimonies regarding violations against civilians from the Druze community. The committee also met with several local activists.

This is the committee’s second visit to the governorate, following its initial visit on October 2. On October 7, the committee announced the conclusion of its first visit, confirming that it will not issue any findings before the investigations are complete.

In a previous statement, the committee clarified that it visited affected communities within As-Suwayda and surrounding areas, noting that it will continue engaging with all parties and stakeholders while emphasizing respect for its independence and the confidential nature of its work.

The committee expressed gratitude to the witnesses and survivors who provided testimonies, and warned against the spread of inaccurate information on social media regarding the nature of its visits, affirming that it has not issued any public calls for testimonies nor published contact numbers for the public.

In July, As-Suwayda governorate witnessed deadly clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribal groups, along with factions affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government. Government forces intervened to stop the fighting before Israel launched airstrikes targeting sensitive Syrian sites, according to human rights reports. The clashes resulted in over 1,500 deaths, most of them civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In August, the Syrian Transitional Government announced the formation of a local investigation committee regarding the events, but the spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, rejected its entry to As-Suwayda, demanding that an independent international team conduct the investigation into the violations.