In an incident raising increasing concerns regarding the human rights situation in southern Syria, the deaths of two minors from the Druze community have been announced. This follows their disappearance more than a month ago under mysterious circumstances in the countryside of Suwayda Governorate, amid conflicting accounts regarding the details of the incident.
The bodies of the two Druze youths, Karam al-Aflaq and Muhannad Rizq, arrived at the Suwayda National Hospital on the evening of Thursday, April 30, 2026. A crowd of local residents and relatives gathered to receive them in an atmosphere of mourning, following their disappearance on March 19, 2026.
According to available information, contact with the two youths was lost on that date near the village of Bakka in the western countryside of Suwayda Governorate, following clashes that erupted between General Security forces and local fighters from the region. Other accounts suggest they were part of a group of four young men arrested by forces affiliated with the interim authority during those events.
The fate of the two youths remained unknown for approximately one month until information was received via mediators indicating that their bodies were at the Daraa National Hospital. They were subsequently handed over through the Red Crescent and transferred to the Suwayda National Hospital, where the forensic medicine department is scheduled to conduct examinations to determine the causes of death and the surrounding circumstances.
Reports indicate that this incident resulted in the deaths of four young men: Ayham Naqour, Suleiman al-Shaibani, Karam al-Aflaq, and Muhannad Rizq.
Information regarding the causes of death remains contradictory; local sources point to the possibility that the victims were subjected to torture to death following their detention, while other accounts suggest they were killed by gunfire during the clashes. To date, no official report has been issued by the competent medical authorities to categorically confirm the cause of death.
This incident occurs within the context of escalating security tensions in Suwayda Governorate since July 2025. The region has witnessed a series of violations against civilians—including killings, kidnappings, and various assaults—attributed to entities affiliated with the transitional authorities. This exacerbates the state of anxiety among local residents, particularly within the Druze community, regarding the continued deterioration of the security situation and the potential for such incidents to recur.
This case raises serious questions regarding the fate of detainees and victims of enforced disappearance, as well as the necessity of conducting independent and transparent investigations to determine responsibility, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international human rights standards.
