Following a recent escalation of violence involving multiple ethnic groups and government forces in Syria, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office is calling for a thorough investigation into allegations of the execution of Druze civilians.
At a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, Foreign Office Spokesman Christian Wagner stated that the events of the last few days, particularly attacks on civilians, “must be investigated and prosecuted and clarified”. He affirmed that this matter would be raised with the government in Damascus.
Wagner acknowledged the Syrian government’s efforts to end the violence and restore public order, referencing the government’s unilateral ceasefire declaration, which, according to available reports, appears to be repeatedly violated.
Responding to inquiries about Germany’s assessment of Israel’s perceived role as a protector of the Druze community, following an incident involving attacks on Israeli military vehicles by Syrian government troops, the spokesman emphasized that Syria should not become “a pawn of foreign powers”. He stressed the importance of upholding Syria’s sovereignty and suggested that Israel, too, has an interest in a stable and functional government in Syria.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights previously accused government forces of executing civilians, reporting that over 200 people have died, including 21 Druze civilians allegedly executed without due process.