These Are Your Dogs The Frenzy of Sectarian Violence That Ended With Hundreds Dead

Bahaa* had no choice but to keep on working as patient after patient came through the doors of the Sweida National Hospital in southern Syria. Almost all had similar injuries: gunshot wounds and bodies shredded by shrapnel from nearby exploding artillery.

- William Christou

"There were hundreds of wounded, no less than 200 bodies in the hospital. Many of them shot in the head, as if executed," said Bahaa, a surgeon speaking using a pseudonym for fear of retribution.

Videos from inside the hospital showed hallways lined with corpses, rooms stacked with body bags and corpses piled up outside. A second doctor from the intensive care unit said bodies had to be placed outside the morgue for lack of space.

The casualties, both civilian and military, were some of the more than 500 people killed over four days of fighting in the Druze-majority province, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The fighting, sparked by a local dispute between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters, quickly escalated and prompted Syrian government forces to intervene. Druze fighters resisted their entry into the province and clashes began with government forces.

As the Syrian military withdrew on Wednesday, people began to emerge from their houses and take stock of their losses.

At least 15 unarmed people were killed at a reception hall belonging to the prominent Radwan family in Sweida city on Tuesday, three members of the family told the Guardian. SOHR also reported the killings, though put the number of dead at 12.

"They were sitting there drinking coffee when gunmen came in and just started shooting. There are no weapons allowed in the hall, it's not like it's a military base," said Maan Radwan, a 46-year-old London resident whose relatives were killed in the shooting.