Full Breakdown
Syrian Druze Leader Declares Community “Inseparable Part” of Israel Amid Sweida Tensions
8/27/2026, 10:31:23 PM
Druze Leader Links Community to Israel
He praised Israel’s model of state-building and expressed hope that a similar system could be created for the Druze. Al-Hijri also hinted that developments concerning Sweida could occur “within days,” though he did not specify what those developments might entail.
Recent Tensions in Sweida Province
The remarks follow a period of intensified conflict in the Druze-majority province. In July 2025, Israeli forces carried out strikes in Damascus and elsewhere after clashes erupted in Sweida, which the Israeli military said were aimed at protecting the Druze. On July 25, 2025, residents were photographed holding a Druze flag after deadly fighting between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and Syrian government forces. The fighting that began in July of the previous year led to civilian casualties and an informal separation of Sweida from Damascus’ direct control.
Political Maneuvers in Damascus
Relations between al-Hijri and the Syrian government remain strained. While some media reports suggested negotiations on security and administrative arrangements, sources close to al-Hijri denied any direct talks, acknowledging only U.S.–mediated discussions about detainee issues. In response to the inability to hold elections in Sweida, President Ahmad al-Sharaa appointed former militia commander Laith al-Balous—viewed as more pro-Damascus—to the Syrian parliament as a Sweida representative, alongside a Bedouin appointee.
International Engagement
Al-Hijri’s statements arrived days after a U.S.–mediated Syrian-Israeli meeting in Jordan, which aimed to de-escalate tensions and discuss security arrangements in southern Syria. The same diplomatic effort followed a recent encounter between Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Amman. The convergence of al-Hijri’s pro-Israel rhetoric, Israeli military involvement, and high-level diplomatic talks underscores the complex interplay of local aspirations, regional power dynamics, and international mediation shaping Sweida’s uncertain future.
