A 35-year-old Syrian-American from Oklahoma, Hosam Saraya, was among eight men executed in Syria amidst escalating sectarian violence. The killings were captured on video, with the gunmen, who have not been independently identified, shouting religious slogans. The victims, including Saraya’s brother and other family members, were members of the Druze community, and the attack occurred during clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes. The US State Department and Oklahoma senators have confirmed the death of the American citizen and expressed concern, while the Syrian government has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
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Two days of clashes between Syrian security forces and loyalists of Bashar Assad, followed by revenge killings, resulted in over 1,000 deaths, marking one of the deadliest events in Syria’s 14-year conflict. The violence included the killing of 745 civilians, mostly Alawites, by Sunni gunmen, alongside casualties among security forces and Assad loyalists. Widespread destruction and displacement followed, with residents reporting atrocities and mass graves. The Syrian government claims to have regained control of affected areas, while international condemnation focuses on the sectarian nature of the violence and calls for investigations.
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The recent emergence of a video depicting the execution of four men by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) fighters has ignited widespread fear among Syria’s minority communities. This footage, reportedly the first documented instance of summary execution by HTS since their offensive began, contradicts earlier assurances of targeting only high-ranking Assad regime members. The uncertainty surrounding the video’s precise date and circumstances, coupled with the lack of information on the perpetrators’ identities, only exacerbates the anxieties.
The video’s release has understandably shattered the fragile trust built between HTS and some minority groups. While initial interactions involved guarantees of safety and even gestures of goodwill, such as delivering bread to Christian villages and meeting with religious leaders, this act of violence has undermined these efforts.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood