The Ministry of Defense of the Transitional Government released footage showing rewards given to those involved in the massacres carried out in the city of Suwayda in July. In the footage, the 60th Brigade, affiliated with Transitional Government forces, is seen rewarding Abu Saif al-Islam al-Hadidi al-Hashimi, known as “Abu Ezab Abu al-Zihur.” The same individual had previously shared a video announcing that the village of al-Matune in northern Suwayda had been taken over by “tribal forces.”
On 19 July, Abu Ezab appeared in a video during the takeover of the village of al-Lewa by tribal forces, presenting himself as the spokesperson of the tribes and vowing that the attacks would continue. Human rights organizations documented that during this attack, Abu Ezab oversaw the forced displacement of residents, as well as the looting and burning of their homes.
While trying to evade responsibility for the massacres in Suwayda, the Transitional Government claimed that the attacks were merely a “local conflict between Druze and tribal groups” and that it was attempting to mediate between them. However, the Defense Ministry’s act of rewarding Abu Ezab contradicts this claim and reveals that these forces are operating directly under the command of the army and “security forces.”
Abu Ezab was rewarded shortly after Transitional Government President Ahmad al-Shari, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, promised that those responsible for the Suwayda massacre would be held accountable. This shows that the Transitional Government is not only covering up crimes but also rewarding the perpetrators.