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U.S. Calls for Accountability of Syrian Government Over Suwayda Violations
The U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barack, has issued a clear call to hold the Syrian government accountable for the escalating violence in southern Syria, particularly in Suwayda province, which has recently witnessed an unprecedented surge in conflict.
Speaking at a press conference held today, Monday, July 21, in Beirut, Barack stressed that "there is a Syrian government in place that must be held accountable and take full legal and humanitarian responsibility for what is happening."
In response to a question, Barack explained that minorities and tribes in Syria had long lived in a state of chaos under previous governments, resorting to their families or tribal networks for protection when facing threats or incidents.
He described the recent targeting of minorities and tribes as "horrifying", adding that the scale of atrocities committed is "beyond comprehension." He expressed hope for urgent solutions to end the suffering of civilians in southern Syria.
De-escalation on the Ground and Civilian Evacuation
On the ground, fighting in Suwayda has begun to de-escalate today, coinciding with the intervention of public security forces to break up clashes between tribal forces and local factions. At the same time, evacuation efforts began for besieged Bedouin families in Suwayda after several days of deadly confrontations.
Barack noted that although the current Syrian government emerged after over 15 years of conflict, it "possesses an army and security apparatus" and has been engaging with various factions and minority groups over the past seven months. However, he emphasized that despite these capacities, the government has failed to prevent massacres and human rights violations.
A Cautious U.S. Stance and a Call for Minority Inclusion
Regarding Washington's position on recent events in southern Syria, Barack stated that the United States is deeply concerned and willing to provide support, particularly in encouraging new government units to integrate minorities into the political and social framework.
He also posed a significant question:
"To what extent is it important to integrate all Syrian minorities and coordinate with neighboring countries, especially Israel? All these components must work together in a unified path."
Rubio Demands Syrian Government Accountability
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on the Syrian government to end the southern catastrophe. In a statement posted yesterday on X (formerly Twitter), he warned that if Damascus seeks to preserve any chance of achieving a united, inclusive, and peaceful Syria, free from ISIS and Iranian control, it must act swiftly.
Rubio stressed the need to use Syrian security forces to prevent ISIS and other violent jihadist groups from committing massacres against civilians. He further demanded that any individual involved in atrocities be brought to justice—including those within the government’s own ranks—and called for an immediate end to rape, murder, and crimes against innocents, which continue to occur.
Alarming Casualty Figures in Suwayda
Amid this escalation, the Syrian Network for Human Rights published a report documenting the deaths of at least 558 people and injuries to more than 783 others of varying severity in Suwayda province between July 13 and July 21.
These rapid developments have placed the Syrian government under growing international pressure to assume responsibility, as public and human rights demands intensify to end the bloodshed, protect civilians, and ensure justice for all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation.
