Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was identified by relatives and a close friend as one of the victims shown in a widely circulated video posted on social media over the weekend. The footage, geolocated to Suwayda province by CNN, depicts a group of masked gunmen in military-style uniforms executing eight captives while shouting religious slogans.

Though the identities of the assailants remain unconfirmed, a school founded by Saraya in Suwayda publicly attributed the killings to fighters with alleged ties to pro-government forces. A family friend also suggested the attackers were aligned with Syrian regime elements.

Saraya’s brother, Kareem, was among those killed, according to two relatives – one based in Syria and the other in the United States – who requested anonymity due to security concerns. They said the attack wiped out all adult male members of the family, leaving behind only women and children.

The killings occurred on July 17, amid escalating violence in the Suwayda region, where tensions between Druze communities and neighboring Bedouin tribes erupted into deadly confrontations.

Suwayda, a predominantly Druze province in southern Syria, has seen sporadic unrest in recent years, but last week's executions mark a particularly brutal turn. The massacre has drawn condemnation from local civil society groups and raised concerns about deepening sectarian strife in the war-torn country.

U.S. officials have not yet commented publicly on the killing of Saraya, who held American citizenship and had been active in educational and humanitarian efforts within the Druze community.