Suwayda family of three found murdered in home

Three members of a single family were found dead inside their home in the Al-Itfaiya neighborhood of Suwayda, Syria. The victims have been identified as lawyer Zaher Mahmoud Thabet, his sister Lina Mahmoud Thabet, and their mother, Reda Abu Shibli, aged 49, 49, and 85 respectively.

Preliminary investigations suggest the victims were attacked with sharp objects. Local reports indicate there were signs of blood both inside and outside the residence, along with an unsuccessful attempt to burn the scene or the bodies. Authorities discovered the bodies after communication with the family was lost, with medical estimates suggesting the deaths occurred at least 24 hours, and possibly several days, before discovery.

The motive and identity of the perpetrators remain unknown. The Thabet family issued a statement condemning the incident as a “heinous crime” and called on security and criminal authorities to expedite the investigation and ensure the perpetrators face maximum legal penalties.

This incident follows previous security concerns in the region, including a separate shooting of a man in the village of Maqlad and earlier clashes involving local security elements. It is noted that Zaher Thabet had previously been kidnapped in 2021, though no direct link has been established between that event and the current killings.