View source for 2018 As-Suwayda attacks

{{Short description|ISIL attacks on Syrian Druze villages }}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title      = 2018 As-Suwayda attacks
| partof     = the [[2018 Southern Syria offensive]] of the [[Syrian Civil War]]
| image      = File:As-Suwayda in Syria (+Golan hatched).svg
| caption    = Location of As-Suwayda Governorate within Syria
| location   = [[As-Suwayda Governorate]], [[Syria]]
| coordinates = 
| date       = 25 July 2018
| time       = 
| timezone   = 
| type       = Suicide bombings, shootings, hostage taking
| fatalities = 258 (+63 attackers)
| injuries   = 180
| perps      = 
| perp       = {{flag|Islamic State}}
| susperps   = 
| susperp    = 
| weapons    = [[Suicide vest]]s, [[Automatic firearm|Automatic weapons]]
| motive     = 
}}
{{Campaignbox Syrian Civil War}}
The '''2018 As-Suwayda attacks''' were a string of [[suicide bombing]]s and mass shooting incidents in [[As-Suwayda]], [[Syria]] on 25 July, 2018. At least 258 people were killed and  180 wounded. The attacks were carried out by the [[Islamic State]] and largely targeted Syria's [[Druze]] minority.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44949823|title=Syria war: More than 200 dead in suicide attacks|work=BBC|date=25 July 2018|access-date=26 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1343806/isis-commits-massacre-syria%E2%80%99s-sweida-toll-rises|title=ISIS Commits Massacre in Syria's Sweida as Toll Rises|last=Al-awsat|first=Asharq|website=aawsat.com|language=en-uk|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref>A 17-year old Druze girl was beheaded.<ref>[https://m.jpost.com/middle-east/article-810966 I dream of liberated Druze land for brethren in Syria], ''[[Jerusalem Post]]''</ref>

#

==Attacks==
The attackers began by assaulting defensive positions in the city. When they depleted their ammunition, they detonated their explosive vests.<ref name="Khadder 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/25/middleeast/syria-bombing-intl/index.html|title=ISIS says it's behind the attacks in Syria that killed 166|last1=Khadder|first1=Kareem|date=July 25, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=July 27, 2018|last2=el Sirgany|first2=Sarah}}</ref> The [[Syrian Arab News Agency]] reported two separate suicide attacks in Suweida, with security forces killing two other attackers before they could blow themselves up, and arresting another inside Suwaida General Hospital. Groups of militants also attacked areas in the [[Al-Mushannaf]] [[nahiyah]] in a coordinated assault and four villages ([[Shbeiki]], Ramy, Ghethet-Hamael and Tarbeh), gaining temporary control of several settlements, slaughtered families in their houses and seizing hostages. Local people gathered and defended their villages with simple weapons and  retook the villages without support of governmental forces. A substantial number of Druze militias were involved in driving the ISIL forces back, most notably the Rijal al-Karama movement and the Mountain Brigade, one of whose sub-commanders ([[Sheikh]] Abu Mu'annis Nabil Saymu'a) was killed in course of the fighting. The [[Syrian Social Nationalist Party|SSNP]] also aided the local pro-government defenders, whilst the [[Syrian Army]] arrived in the area two days after the combat had ended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2018/05/the-suwayda-attacks-interview |title=The Suwayda' Attacks: Interview |author=[[Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi]] |date=27 July 2018 |access-date=4 August 2018 }}</ref>

A suicide bombing in a vegetable market in the capital of the province, Al Suwayda, resulted in at least 38 casualties.<ref name="Khadder 2018" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aoav.org.uk/2018/suicide-bomber-kills-at-least-38-in-syria-city-of-sweida/|title = Suicide bomber kills at least 38 in Syrian city of Sweida|date = 25 July 2018}}</ref> Following the attack, three captured ISIL fighters were publicly hanged by the angry local Druze people in the provincial capital.<ref name="almasdarnews.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-executes-captured-syrian-soldiers-after-devastating-terrorist-attack-in-sweida/|title = ISIS executes captured Syrian soldiers after devastating terrorist attack in Sweida|date = 26 July 2018}}</ref>

==Casualties==
Initially, the head of the Sweida health authority told the pro-Damascus Sham FM radio some 96 people were killed and 176 wounded in total.<ref name="Reuters">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-attack/deadly-attacks-hit-syrian-villages-city-of-sweida-idUSKBN1KF0DG|title=Islamic State kills 215 in southwest Syria attacks: local official|work=Reuters|date=25 July 2018|access-date=26 July 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Later, the director of health updated the number of deaths and injuries and said that 215 people were killed and 180 others injured in the attacks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/26/c_137348276.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725214706/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/26/c_137348276.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2018|title=Update: Death toll of IS attacks in Syria's Sweida rises to 215|date=25 July 2018|website=www.xinhuanet.com|access-date=25 July 2018}}</ref> The [[Syrian Observatory for Human Rights]], a UK-based monitoring group, reported 258 deaths (142 civilians and 116 government fighters), in addition to 63 ISIL fighters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=99288|title=More casualties raise to 258, the number of people killed in the bloody and violent attack by ISIS east of al-Suwaidaa|date=1 August 2018|website=The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|access-date=1 August 2018}}<br>[http://www.syriahr.com/en/?p=99317 After the execution of about 50 members of Jaysh Khalid Ibn al-Walid and their families, the file of releasing abductees of al-Suwaidaa hinders and renewed efforts take place between ISIS and the regime to find a new solution]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/27/is-leaves-syria-druze-reeling-from-heaviest-losses-of-war/|title=IS leaves Syria Druze reeling from heaviest losses of war|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-date=23 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423123911/https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/27/is-leaves-syria-druze-reeling-from-heaviest-losses-of-war/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, between 14-20 and 36 Druze women and children were abducted by ISIL fighters during the raid, and taken to their holdouts in the desert. Afterward some managed to escape while several died in captivity. ISIL executed all the Druze men they captured.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2018/Jul-30/458410-36-women-children-kidnapped-by-daesh-last-week-in-syrias-swaida-activist-group.ashx|title=36 women, children kidnapped by Daesh last week in Syria's Swaida: Activist group &#124; News , Middle East &#124; THE DAILY STAR|access-date=31 July 2018|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731225334/https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2018/Jul-30/458410-36-women-children-kidnapped-by-daesh-last-week-in-syrias-swaida-activist-group.ashx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mideastcenter.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mideastcenter.org/research-blog/new-details-of-isis-attack-on-suwayda-the-hundreds-killed-14-druze-women-kidnapped|title=New details of ISIS attack on Suwayda, the hundreds killed, 14 Druze women kidnapped|date=27 July 2018}}</ref> ISIL executed several Syrian army soldiers and NDF members captured during the raid, posting videos of their executions on the Internet.<ref name="almasdarnews.com"/> ISIL had threatened to execute the captured Druze women if the Syrian army didn't stop their offensive against ISIL in the Yarmouk basin in western Daraa province.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-isis-threatens-to-slaughter-women-captives-unless-army-halts-west-daraa-offensive/|title = VIDEO: ISIS threatens to slaughter women captives unless Army halts west Daraa offensive|date = 29 July 2018|access-date = 31 July 2018|archive-date = 4 May 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190504182042/https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/video-isis-threatens-to-slaughter-women-captives-unless-army-halts-west-daraa-offensive/|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-threatens-to-burn-alive-women-children-kidnapped-from-al-sweida/|title = ISIS threatens to burn alive women, children kidnapped from Al-Sweida|date = 28 July 2018}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
{{One source|section|date=August 2018}}
{{Main|As-Suwayda offensive (August–November 2018)}}
As-Suwayda Governor Amer al-Eshi reported that the city had been secured by evening. The state-run television station, [[Ikhbariyah TV]], reported that the [[Syrian Air Force]] has launched a bombing campaign on ISIS-held villages of al-Matouna, Duma, and Tima.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-suicide-bomb-attack-isis-sweida-deraa-golan-heights-a8462916.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-suicide-bomb-attack-isis-sweida-deraa-golan-heights-a8462916.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Isis suicide bombings in Syria kill 215 in deadliest attack in months|last=McKernan|first=Bethan|date=July 25, 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=July 27, 2017|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 31 July 2018, in exchange for the release of the Druze women captured by ISIL in the raid in eastern Suweida, the Syrian Army evacuated hundreds of ISIL fighters from the Yarmouk basin in western Daraa to their strongholds in the Badiya region in eastern Syria Desert.<ref>https://syria.liveuamap.icom/en/2018/31-july-multiple-sources-and-witnesses-reporting-100s-of{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/defeated-isis-in-yarmouk-basin-evacuated-to-syrian-desert-photos/|title=Defeated ISIS in Yarmouk Basin evacuated to Syrian Desert &#91;+Photos&#93;|date=31 July 2018}}</ref>
Many Druze people were very angry with the Syrian Military because of the incompetent security measures in Suwayda province, accusing the Syrian Government of deliberately allowing the attacks so that they can have a casus belli to reimpose stricter government control over the Suwayda province and end the Druze autonomy, especially because the attack was made by ISIL fighters evacuated from Southern Damascus to Eastern Syria Desert in May 2018.<ref name="mideastcenter.org"/>

Afterwards, the Syrian government offered a deal to ISIL, that the 30+ captured Druze civilians will be swapped in the prisoner exchange for over 200 ISIL fighters of Jaysh Khaled bin Walid who surrendered in southwestern Daraa on 31 July 2018, however ISIL forces in Badiya region refused the prisoner exchange, and instead requested a large sum of ransom money for the release of the captured Druze civilians, which the Syrian army refused to pay.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url = https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-to-isis-release-sweida-prisoners-or-we-will-destroy-you/|title = Syrian military to ISIS: Release Sweida prisoners or we will destroy you|date = 5 August 2018|access-date = 5 August 2018|archive-date = 5 August 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180805233632/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-to-isis-release-sweida-prisoners-or-we-will-destroy-you/|url-status = dead}}</ref> In order to pressure the Syrian government to pay the ransom, ISIL executed one of the male Druze civilians captured in the raid on August 2, and posted the video of his execution on the internet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-releases-footage-of-19-year-old-student-executed-in-al-sweida/|title = ISIS releases footage of 19 year old student executed in Al-Sweida|date = 5 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-executes-first-hostage-from-al-sweida/|title = ISIS executes first hostage from Al-Sweida|date = 5 August 2018}}</ref> In response, the Syrian army threatened ISIL forces in Badiya region that if they did not release the captives, that they would be destroyed in the upcoming military operation in Badiya al Sham region.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-armys-elite-unit-heads-to-sweida-to-finish-off-isis/|title=Syrian Army's elite unit heads to Sweida to finish off ISIS|date=4 August 2018}}</ref>

== Reactions ==

* {{Flag|Egypt}}: Saad el Gamal, chairman of the Committee for Arab Affairs in the [[Parliament of Egypt|Egyptian Parliament]], condemned the attacks while suggesting that foreign interference in Syrian internal affairs "offers a cover for terrorists".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.egyptiangazette.net.eg/egypt-news/7241-parl-t-committee-slams-terrorist-attack-on-syria-s-as-suwayda.html|title=Parl't committee slams terrorist attack on Syria's As Suwayda|date=July 26, 2018|website=The Egyptian Gazette|language=en-gb|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727182453/http://www.egyptiangazette.net.eg/egypt-news/7241-parl-t-committee-slams-terrorist-attack-on-syria-s-as-suwayda.html|archive-date=27 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Rojava}}: The YPG released a statement on August 4 condemning the attacks and calling for further actions against IS: "The attack reveals once again the true face of IS and shows clearly that this terrorist group must be destroyed as soon as possible".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/rojava/ypg-condemns-the-brutal-attack-on-the-people-of-suwayda-28750|title=YPG condemns the brutal attack on the people of Suwayda|date=August 4, 2018|website=ANF News|language=en-gb|access-date=August 8, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[2018 Southern Syria offensive]]
* [[Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (May-August 2018)]]
* [[As-Suwayda offensive (June 2018)]]
* [[As-Suwayda offensive (August 2018)]]
* [[Inghimasi]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Terrorist attacks in Syria}}
{{Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suwayda attacks}}
[[Category:Suicide bombings in 2018]]
[[Category:Spree shootings in Syria]]
[[Category:As-Suwayda Governorate in the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:ISIL terrorist incidents in Syria]]
[[Category:July 2018 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:July 2018 events in Syria]]
[[Category:Massacres of the Syrian civil war in 2018]]
[[Category:Suicide bombings in Syria]]
[[Category:2018 murders in Syria]]
[[Category:Persecution of Druze by Muslims]]
[[Category:Hostage taking in Syria]]
[[Category:Kidnappings in Syria]]
[[Category:Massacres of the Syrian civil war perpetrated by ISIL]]
[[Category:2018 mass shootings in Asia]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in 2018]]
[[Category:Mass kidnappings in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in Syria in 2018]]
[[Category:Violence against men in Asia]]
[[Category:Killing of captives by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]
[[Category:Filmed executions]]
[[Category:Marketplace attacks in Syria]]