Syrian Druze leader vows to continue battle to ‘liberate' Suwayda
Israeli military strikes Syrian army headquarters in support of the Druze
Israel strikes Damascus during Rudaw live coverage
Israel strikes entrance of Syrian military headquarters in Damascus
Five killed, two injured in 'terrorist' attacks on Rojava Asayish
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community vowed on Wednesday to continue fighting Damascus forces in Suwayda province until the area is 'entirely liberated,' just hours after Israeli warplanes struck government military targets in central Damascus.
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, the leading Druze spiritual authority in Suwayda, said through his office on Wednesday that the fight must continue until the province is fully retaken from Damascus-affiliated forces.
In a Facebook post, the Druze leadership, which represents Hajari, declared: 'It emphasizes the need to continue defending the project, and to keep fighting until our province is entirely liberated from these gangs, without restriction or condition.'
The post further stated that there is no dialogue or mandate with Damascus forces. 'We emphasize to the local and international public opinion that there is no agreement, negotiation or mandate with these armed gangs who call themselves a government,' it added.
The statement urged Syrian government forces who are involved in the clashes to lay down their arms, promising that those who do 'will not be insulted or abused.'
This comes in stark contrast to remarks by Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, a rival Druze cleric, who in a video broadcast by Syrian state media on Wednesday said the community had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government that would take immediate effect.
Hajari's forces have been leading the offensive against the Syrian government and have fiercely criticized Syria's new rulers, who assumed power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 300 people have been killed since fighting erupted between the Druze community and the Bedouin tribes on Sunday. Among the dead are 69 Druze fighters and 40 civilians, including 27 reportedly killed in 'summary executions... by members of the defense and interior ministries.' The monitor also reported the deaths of 165 pro-government fighters, 18 Bedouins, and ten regime security personnel killed in Israeli strikes.
On Tuesday, Hajari warned that the community is facing 'extermination,' saying that a recent statement welcoming Damascus forces into Suwayda was issued under duress to prevent further bloodshed. Despite Damascus declaring a ceasefire the same day, fighting resumed within hours.
Amid the escalating crisis, the Israeli military on Wednesday struck the Syrian regime's General Staff headquarters in central Damascus, intensifying its campaign to protect the Druze population in Syria.
'The IDF attacked the Syrian regime's General Staff headquarters in the Damascus area a short while ago,' said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee. Syria's health ministry reported one person killed and 18 others wounded in the Israeli strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel was 'acting to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the [Syrian] regime,' urging Israeli Druze citizens not to cross into Syria near Suwayda.
'You are risking your lives... and impeding the efforts of the IDF,' he warned. 'Return to your homes and let the IDF take action.'
Mazloum Abdi, Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - the de facto army of Rojava - said in a post on X that they are 'receiving appeals from our people in Suwayda to secure safe passages for civilians and to stop the attacks targeting them.'
He added, 'Killing women and children and attacking religious symbols is a crime against humanity and the values of Syrians, and these aggressive acts must be stopped immediately and those responsible held accountable.'
US Senator Marco Rubio said on Wednesday during a press conference that Washington was closely monitoring the situation. 'We're very concerned about it, and hopefully we'll have some updates later today,' he said, adding that the US wants the fighting to stop.
He later told journalists at the Oval Office that what is happening in Suwayda is the result of 'historic, longtime rivalries,' adding that it has led to 'an unfortunate situation and a misunderstanding.'
Rubio noted that they are 'on our way towards a real de-escalation... In the next few hours, we hope to see some real progress to end what you've been seeing."
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