French-Syrian Druze killed in Suweida sectarian violence: family

A French-Syrian national was killed in sectarian violence that rocked Syria's Druze heartland this month, his sister told AFP on Wednesday, one of hundreds dead according to a monitor.

The violence began on 13 July with clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes, rapidly escalating before ending with a weekend ceasefire.

Firas Abou Latif, a 48-year-old dual citizen from Syria's Druze minority, travelled to the country in early June "after a period of long absence with his wife, son and daughter who are all French nationals", his sister Maissa Abou Latif told an AFP correspondent by telephone from Suweida city.

When sectarian clashes erupted, "he made us leave the house with his wife and two children, but he and my husband stayed," she said.

She said armed men attacked the house, which burned down, and killed her husband and brother.

The family "are in contact with the French foreign ministry" and await a secure exit from the area, she added.

A ceasefire took effect on Sunday, after Bedouin and tribal fighters withdrew from Suweida city and Druze groups regained control, while government forces deployed in parts of the province.

Ayman Zarifah, Firas Abou Latif's brother-in-law, told AFP on Tuesday that the computer scientist usually lived near Rouen in France but had decided to head to Sweida for a family visit.

"He was at his father's home" along with another relative when it was attacked during the sectarian violence, said Zarifah, who lives in France.

"We lost contact with him on Thursday" and a relative contacted them two days later to say two bodies had been found in the house, he said.

"He was unarmed and they burnt down the house. They killed him in cold blood because he was Druze," said Zarifah.

There was no comprehensive information regarding dual nationals or foreigners killed in the violence.

On Tuesday, the US State Department confirmed the death "last week of US citizen Hosam Saraya" in the Sweida region.

A friend of Saraya, requesting anonymity due to security concerns, said they recognised him in a video on social media in which gunmen in military garb led men in civilian clothes through the street and shot them dead to cries of "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest).