Latest news with #Hajari
Rudaw Net
6 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syrian Druze leader vows to continue battle to ‘liberate' Suwayda
Also in Syria 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 A+ A- 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."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel bombs Syria after Iran strike, are we heading for a World War III - what we know so far
An escalation of a conflict in the Middle East is triggering fears worldwide, as Israel launched a significant barrage of airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, hitting important Syrian government facilities such as part of the Defence Ministry and close to the presidential palace, as per a Reuters report. Israel Says It's Defending Druze Communities The government of Israel claims its recent attacks were intended to defend the nation's Druze minority and their broader communities in southern Syria, specifically in the war-torn city of Sweida, where intense clashes have broken out among government troops, Bedouin tribal fighters, and local Druze militias, according to the report. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare healthcare MCA Degree Finance Artificial Intelligence CXO Data Science Others Technology MBA Cybersecurity Data Science Leadership Public Policy Design Thinking others Project Management PGDM Product Management Management Data Analytics Digital Marketing Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli military would "continue to operate vigorously in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until they withdraw completely," as quoted by Reuters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [70%할인] 갱년기 증상 전부 완화가능한 '이것' 특가 진행 중! 한 달치 무료 증정 이벤트 곧 마감! 리피어라 더 알아보기 Undo ALSO READ: Opendoor stock skyrockets 24% — why has the rally gained momentum in recent days? A Blow to Syria's New Government The Israeli attacks were a significant Israeli escalation against the Islamist-led administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as reported by Reuters. This came even after his warming ties with the United States and his administration's increasing security contacts with Israel, reported Reuters. Live Events While Sharaa is also facing major difficulty bringing Syria back together due to deep misgivings from groups that fear Islamist rule and mistrust, which increased after mass killings of members of the Alawite minority in March, as per the report. ALSO READ: Iceland volcano eruption: It's not the lava going viral, but the breathtaking photos — see them here Ceasefire in Question as Druze Leadership Splits The Syrian interior ministry and a Druze leader, Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, had declared that a ceasefire agreement with the Syrian government in Sweida had been reached, but Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, another Druze leader, said fighting should continue until Sweida is "entirely liberated," as quoted by Reuters. As Hajari and Jarbou are rivals, Hajari's forces have led the offensive against the Syrian government and have fiercely criticised Syria's new rulers, and without his agreement, a ceasefire is very unlikely to hold, as reported by Reuters. According to Reuters, Druze are followers of a religion that is an offshoot of Islam and are spread between Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Israeli Druze Cross the Border to Aid Syrian Druze After the group asked Israel to help Druze in Syria, scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side, reported Reuters, citing a witness. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli military was trying to save the Druze and asked Israeli Druze citizens not to cross the border, the Israeli military stated it was working to safely return civilians who had crossed, as reported by Reuters. US and Turkey Call for Calm The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that the situation was complicated, as there were long-time historic rivalries involved, but shared that he had been engaged with both sides all morning and "we are on our way towards a real de-escalation," as quoted in the report. Rubio said, "In the next few hours we hope to see some real progress to end what we have been seeing the last couple of hours," as quoted by Reuters. Even Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan communicated with his counterparts from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and with US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, to condemn Israel's attacks on Syria and urged for an end to the increasing violence in the country's south, as reported by Reuters. FAQs Why is Israel bombing Syria now? Israel says it's trying to protect the Druze community in southern Syria, especially in Sweida, where fighting has become deadly, as per the report. Why did Israeli Druze cross into Syria? Driven by concern for their families, dozens of Israeli Druze broke through the border to support their community in Syria, as per the report.
Rudaw Net
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syrian official forces control Druze city, announce ceasefire
Also in Syria Five Kurdish security forces killed by ISIS in northeast Syria: War monitor Deadly violence in Suwayda draws UN, Kurdish reactions At least 30 dead in Syria's Suwayda clashes Bedouin, Druze clashes kill 21, injure dozens in south Syria: War monitor A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Damascus-affiliated forces on Tuesday entered the Druze city of Suwayda following days of nascent violence between the community and Bedouin groups. The defense minister announced a ceasefire following a deal with the Druze notables. 'To all units operating inside the city of Suwayda; we announce a complete ceasefire after the agreement with the city's dignitaries and notables, with response only to sources of fire and dealing with any targeting by outlaw groups,' Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement. This came after security forces affiliated with the interim government entered the southern city of Suwayda to curb the deadly violence between Druze community and Bedouins - which has claimed the lives of around 100 people so far. The minister added that they have deployed forces to the city 'to regulate military behavior and hold violators accountable.' Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority, said in a statement that the community is facing 'extermination' and that a statement welcoming Damascus-affiliated forces into Suwayda was issued under pressure in order to stop further bloodshed. 'The statement we issued a short while ago with its complete details was imposed upon us from Damascus and pressure from foreign countries for the sake of [sparing the spilling of] our son's blood,' he said in a video message. He added that despite accepting to publish the 'humiliating statement… they broke their pact and promise, and the random shelling of defenseless civilians continued.' Fighting between Druze and Bedouin groups over the past two days in Suwayda province has triggered concern from the United Nations and Kurdish-led authorities in northeast Syria (Rojava). According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 99 people have been killed - 60 of them Druze, including two women and two children, as well as 18 Bedouins. The toll also includes 14 members of Syria's defense ministry and seven unidentified fighters. Hajari called on the global community to intervene. 'We appeal to you, people of nobility, from everywhere and from all countries, old and young, men and women, to confront this barbaric campaign with all available means,' he said. Earlier, the Druze leadership had issued a statement calling on fighters in Suwayda to cooperate with incoming regime forces and stop clashes to protect civilians and state institutions. The statement welcomed the deployment of forces from Syria's interior and defense ministries and urged a ceasefire until a civilian safety agreement is reached. Hajari said the statement followed 'numerous negotiations with Damascus that yielded no results.' On Monday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces had targeted tanks moving toward Suwayda 'to impede their arrival,' warning that their presence could pose a threat to Israel. 'We will not allow a military threat to exist in southern Syria,' he said. Israel has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to the Druze community in Syria and has acted to prevent the buildup of hostile military forces near its border. However, Damascus's entry into the southern province comes as a Syrian diplomatic source told AFP that a Syrian and an Israeli official held a meeting in Baku on Saturday during interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that they had 'instructed the IDF to immediately strike regime forces and weapons that were brought into the Sweida region in the Druze Mountain area of Syria for regime operations against the Druze.' They also expressed their commitment to 'preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep bond of brotherhood with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria. We are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the continued demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.' This is not the first time the new authorities in Syria attempt to enter the province. In late December, the now-dissolved Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which formed into the new government - were denied access to Syria's southern Suwayda province after local Druze militias demanded they turn back. Hajari, who has been an outspoken critic of the current government, previously rejected Syria's new constitutional declaration introduced in March, calling it a 'declaration of tyranny' and warning it threatens the country's ethnic and sectarian makeup. The constitution, signed by Sharaa and introduced by Syria's Islamist-led interim government, prioritizes Islamic jurisprudence as a legislative foundation - drawing opposition from Christian, Alawite, Kurdish, and Druze communities. This also marks the second bout of violence in Suwayda this year. In April and May, sectarian tensions erupted after an offensive audio recording allegedly from a Druze cleric circulated online, sparking clashes that left more than 100 people dead, according to SOHR. Hajari in April also denied making any political agreements with Damascus, calling the current government 'extremist in every sense of the word.'
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Time of India
Six held for Indore bizman's attempted murder
Indore: Lasudia police arrested six accused involved in an attempt to murder case of a local businessman, Rahul Hajari, at a farmhouse located on Lasudia Bypass in Indore. The attack stemmed from a prior altercation between Hajari and Komal Shukla, after which Hajari prohibited Shukla from visiting the farm. On Thursday night, Hajari was admitted to a private hospital with serious injuries, prompting a police investigation. Based on his statement, he was attacked by Mohak alias Monu Shukla, the brother of Komal Shukla, along with several accomplices who arrived in an SUV and assaulted him with baseball bats, bamboo sticks, iron chain sprocket covers, and wooden rods. His nephew Rajvardhan and a female staff member who tried to intervene were also injured in the assault. Lasudia police registered an FIR under relevant sections and began reviewing CCTV footage from the area. The visuals confirmed that six individuals arrived at the scene in a silver SUV. Upon identifying the accused, the police received a tip-off about their location near New Loha Mandi. A team tracked them down and pursued their vehicle, which eventually crashed into a wall during the escape attempt, causing injuries to the accused while fleeing. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo All six were taken into custody shortly after. Those arrested include Mohak alias Monu Shukla (38), Anil Barvele (40), Kalu Gir (33), Sandeep Bagle (30), Ranjit Bagle (21), and Rajdeep Naik (25), the vehicle owner. The police seized the SUV, baseball bats, iron chains, bamboo sticks and other weapons used in the assault. Investigations revealed the accused consumed alcohol and planned the attack in advance. Mohak alias Monu has a long history of serious charges including murder, assault and intimidation registered at various police stations like Pardesipura, Heera Nagar and Khudel. Similarly, Rajdeep Naik and Anil Barvele also have multiple cases of assault, reckless driving and gambling registered against them. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Rudaw Net
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syria's Druze spiritual leader slams new Syrian leadership as ‘extremist'
Also in Syria Syrian constitutional declaration upholds Arab identity Syrian pastor slams constitution declaration for lacking religious freedom Syria president approves draft constitution US congressman urges for protection of Syrian Kurds A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Hikmat al-Hajari, on Thursday firmly denied claims that Syrian Druze have struck a deal with the country's new leadership, accusing the current government in Damascus of being "extremist in every sense of the word." In a meeting with the local community in Syria's southern Suwayda province, Hajari stated that the new government in Damascus is "an extremist government in every sense of the word' and is 'wanted by international [courts of] justice." He emphasized that dealing with such a leadership is something the Druze community cannot 'approach with leniency.' Following a swift offensive, a coalition of rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - on December 8 toppled the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa was appointed as Syria's interim President in late January. Around that same period, the country's constitution was annulled, its parliament was dissolved and its army disbanded. Sharaa then vowed to form an 'inclusive transitional government that would reflect Syria's diversity,' hold "free and fair elections," and preserve "civil peace" and Syria's territorial unity. In recent days, Syrian media reported that the Damascus leadership had struck an agreement 'to organize administrative and security affairs in Suwayda,' and that the accord 'would allow security forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership to enter the Druze-majority province and restore state institutions. However, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Hajari, denied on Thursday having reached such an agreement, stating that 'there is no entente or understanding with the current government in Damascus' and that 'we are working for the interest of our sect, and every sect [in Syria] is strong in its men, cadres and national ideology.' Druze commander censures interim constitution Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday signed a 53-article constitutional declaration that centers on Islamic jurisprudence, stipulates that the country's president must be a Muslim, and sets a five-year transitional period of the country. It also maintains the name of the country as the Syrian 'Arab' Republic and Arabic as the only official language. Speaking to Rudaw's Dilbixwin Dara on Thursday, the commander of the Druze operations in Suwayda, Bahaa al-Jamal, rejected the new constitutional declaration as 'not accepted' by Syria's Druze community. He added that the Druze in Syria 'do not accept the constitutional declaration,' stressing that 'any political or legal arrangement must be approved by the spiritual leader of the Druze community [Hajari].' He further noted that the Druze 'ought to have been included' in the effort to present the declaration as 'members of Suwayda province and the Syrian people's constituents.' Jamal also claimed that the Druze community does not recognize Sharaa as president, 'We will recognize a president of the republic after [he is elected] through fair elections. We do not recognize a terrorist.' The operations commander of the Druze additionally commented on the violence that erupted in the Alawite-majority coastal areas of western Syria last Thursday, when loyalists of the ousted dictator Assad, launched attacks against security forces affiliated with the new Syrian leadership. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported on Monday that around 1,500 people - mostly civilians - were killed in the violence and that most of the fatalities were caused by government or government-affiliated forces. Jamal condemned the 'massacres' that unfolded in Syria's western coast, stressing that 'they are unarmed civilians' and 'not remnants of the [Assad] regime as Sharaa and the HTS claim.' He added that the violence in the Alawite-majority coast is fueling security concerns among other communities in Syria, stressing that the Druze 'are prepared, we have thousands of military personnel, however, we will not initiate the first attack. But if we come under military attack… we have the right to defend ourselves.' Where the Druze stand The Druze make up around three percent of Syria's entire population of 23.6 million, mainly residing in Suwayda, according to the European Union data. Apart from defending themselves against attacks in the areas where they live, Syrian Druze have largely distanced themselves from the Syrian unrest that began in 2011, with many of them avoiding compulsory military service under Assad. The former regime avoided clashes with the community despite frequent anti-government protests. Following the ouster of the Assad regime, the Druze – along with the Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria (Rojava) – have adamantly called for decentralization, despite Damascus rejecting federalism. Druze armed and political forces in Suwayda have repeatedly reiterated their rejection of disbanding their forces. Samir Azzam, the Coordinator of the Association of Secular Democratic Syrians, a Druze political group based in Suwayda province, told Rudaw on Wednesday that 'the people of Suwayda were protesting a week ago over the poverty and loss of hope under the [current] Islamic regime [in Damascus], expelling Sharaa's representative in the province, along with the police chief he appointed." Azzam also censured a Tuesday meeting between Sharaa and a group of individuals described by the state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) as 'a group of intellectuals and academics' representing the Druze community, noting that 'these people only represent themselves and have no popular support in Suwayda.' The Coordinator of the Association of Secular Democratic Syrians further insisted that Syrian Druze want 'a secular civil state or a decentralized state,' and that 'after Damascus accepts decentralization… discussions or negotiations can take place to reach a political solution.' Accordingly, Azzam ruled out an agreement between the Druze community and the Sharaa-led leadership in Damascus any time soon. It is worth mentioning that Suwayda Governorate, located in the south of the country, had distanced itself from the conflict throughout the years of civil war, as thousands of its young men refused to join the military service imposed by the previous regime. Until now, some armed factions in the governorate, which had prevented the entry of security forces from the new administration weeks ago, refused to hand over their weapons until a final agreement is reached with Damascus. Israel has also intervened, pledging to protect the Druze from any attack in southern Syria, which has angered the people of those areas, especially since Israeli forces have expanded their incursions since December of the previous year into several border cities.
