The U.S. State Division confirmed on Tuesday {that a} U.S. citizen was killed in Syria after disturbing movies surfaced exhibiting him amongst a gaggle of males apparently being executed by Syrian authorities forces.
“We provide condolences to the household on their loss and are offering consular help to them,” the State Division mentioned in a press release. “We’re significantly involved when any U.S. citizen is harmed abroad, wherever they’re. The USA requires accountability in all instances the place U.S. residents are harmed overseas.”
Household and mates confirmed to ABC Information that one of many males executed was Hosam Saraya, an American citizen.
Undated picture of American, Hosam Saraya who was killed in Syria.
Obtained by ABC Information
The affirmation got here after movies shared on social media final week confirmed eight males kneeling subsequent to one another in civilian garments, with a gaggle of troopers filming. In a single video, the troopers are seen speaking to one another. Then, with out warning, they open hearth, taking pictures the unarmed, kneeling males dozens of occasions at shut vary.
The movies had been filmed in Tishreen Sq., in southern Syria, on the afternoon of July 16 amid ongoing preventing there.
ABC Information has spoken to family and friends of Hosam Saraya, a American-Syrian citizen, and confirmed that he and different family had been amongst these seen within the video being gunned down.
In addition to Saraya, the household mentioned his brother, Karim, their father, Ghassan, and their uncles and cousins had been additionally shot to demise within the incident.
The household confirmed ABC Information Saraya’s American passport, confirming his U.S. citizenship.
The State Division is “trying into accounts of the demise of a person reported to have been a U.S. citizen in Syria,” a spokesperson mentioned.
The Saraya household are Druze, the biggest ethnic group within the metropolis however a minority in Syria. Sectarian clashes broke final week between authorities forces and Druze, Sunni Bedouins and different Sunni factions.
An in depth good friend of the Sarayas who labored with Hosam advised ABC Information that he spoke with Hosam and his family final Tuesday night time and that they advised him bombs had been falling round their dwelling. On Wednesday, the good friend, who solely desires to be recognized as Omar, heard from different relations that Hosam and the others had been taken from their dwelling by authorities forces.
Saraya’s mom was left of their ransacked dwelling, Omar mentioned.
