The State Department has confirmed that a U.S. citizen has been killed by Syrian government forces
Hosam Saraya, a Syrian American citizen of Druze descent, was murdered alongside dozens of other men being held captive by local forces in Tishreen Square, located in the center of Sweida, Syria.
Disturbing footage of the killing circulated online prior to the State Department’s confirmation.
“We offer condolences to the family on their loss and are providing consular assistance to them,” the State Department said in a statement to ABC News.
“We are greatly concerned when any U.S. citizen is harmed overseas, wherever they are,” the department wrote. “The United States calls for accountability in all cases where U.S. citizens are harmed abroad.”
Officials told the outlet they were “looking into accounts of the death of an individual reported to have been a U.S. citizen in Syria,” while family and friends of Saraya confirmed his identity to ABC.
Saraya recently returned home to care for his father after completing courses in Oklahoma, according to CNN Arabic.
Oklahoma lawmakers also acknowledged his death through posts online.
“Cindy and I are heartbroken by the death of Hosam Saraya. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria,” Sen. James Lankford (R) wrote in a Monday post on social platform X.
“We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. May God bring peace and comfort in this time of sorrow,” he added.
“We’ve learned that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria,” Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R) wrote on X.
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Was he a soldier??
We need to make sure that Syria doesn’t go down the same hole as before. Trump has issued support for the new government, but we need to do more to ensure that they are on the right path. I would like to see peacekeepers stationed there to make sure that the many different groups in the country are protected.