STORY: Eyewitness video released on Sunday (July 20) appears to show body bags on the national hospital grounds in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, following violence in Syria's southern province.

Reuters was able to confirm the location of the video as Sweida from the exteriors of Sweida national hospital, which matched file imagery of the area. The date when the video was recorded could not be verified independently. However, Reuters reporting on July 21 includes a local resident's account of the smell of corpses at the hospital.

With hundreds reported killed, the violence has posed a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, drawing Israeli airstrikes on his Islamist-led government last week and deepening fissures in a country fractured by 14 years of sectarian civil war.

The Druze are a small but influential minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon who follow a religion that is an offshoot of a branch of Shi'ite Islam. Some hardline Sunnis deem their beliefs heretical.

The fighting in Sweida began with clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Eyewitness video appears to show body bags on national hospital grounds in Sweida, Syria. Video Credit: Suwayda 24.

VIDEO SHOWS: EYEWITNESS VIDEO APPEARING TO SHOW BODY BAGS ON GROUND OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: VIDEO WAS BLURRED AT SOURCE

VERIFIED BY:

- Hospital exteriors matched file imagery

- Date could not be verified independently

- Reuters reporting on Monday (July 21) describes conditions around the hospital

SHOWS: SWEIDA, SYRIA (RELEASED JULY 20, 2025) (SUWAYDA 24 - No resale / Must on screen courtesy Suwayda 24)

1. VARIOUS OF BODY BAGS ON GROUND / VEHICLES OUTSIDE HOSPITAL / MEN OUTSIDE HOSPITAL