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The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Clashes in Syria's Druze heartland: who are the combatants?
The Druze-majority city of Sweida in southern Syria witnessed a week of heavy clashes coupled with an offensive by pro-government troops. A ceasefire appeared to be holding on Sunday. Sweida is the capital of its province with the same name, which is home to 270,000 Druze, making it the heartland of the sect in Syria. Over the past week, the minority suffered the biggest loss of life since mounting a failed revolt against French colonial rule from 1925 to 1927. Druze sources say that it will take days to find out how many members of the sect were killed, with many civilians killed in their homes in Sweida and surrounding villages. However, the toll could be more than 1,000, the sources said. Hundreds of the attacking forces, composed of regular troops and paramilitary, are estimated to have been killed, many by Israeli air raids. The sect is an offshoot of Islam and the Druze are mainly present in Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Druze resistance emerges Before the attacks on the city on Sunday, about 3,000 Druze militiamen in Sweida were largely under the command of Laith Al Baalous, a Druze figure. Mr Al Baalous had advocated for accommodation with the government, led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, an offshoot of Al Qaeda. The group led the ouster of the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri, the most prominent in a triumvirate comprising the Druze spiritual leadership, resisted attempts by Mr Al Shara to control Sweida by appointing new security troops in the province, drawn from the ranks of HTS and its allies. However, violence between the government and the Druze broke out first in Damascus, when militia allies of Mr Al Shara attacked Druze residential areas, killing dozens of civilians. The attacks stopped after Israel bombed targets belonging to the Syrian military and its auxiliaries in the capital and its outskirts. Israel said it has been carrying out strikes to defend the Druze community but some political analysts say Israel also wants the central authorities to remain weak. The violence was followed by talks between Druze representatives and Damascus on handing control of Sweida governorate, but Mr Hijri resisted a proposal by Mr Al Shara to post 300 to 500 Druze security personnel allied with the president. During negotiations on readmitting former Druze soldiers into the new army, Mr Al Shara also rejected 2,700 names of out of 3,600 presented by Mr Hijri, according to sources in Jordan who have been following the events. Mr Al Hijri also labelled the Damascus government as extremist and anti-democratic. The stalemate over the admission of HTS-linked security troops to Sweida set the scene for the government offensive, which came after clashes broke out between armed residents of a Sunni Bedouin quarter and Druze gunmen. The clashes where prompted by the abduction of Adlalah Duwara, a vegetable seller and member of the Druze sect, while driving his lorry on the main road from Sweida to Damascus, which is under government control. His tribe responded by abducting a man in a Bedouin Sunni neighbourhood of Sweida, which started a cycle of abduction between the two communities. The scale of attacks and killings during the subsequent government offensive led Druze factions to coalesce around Mr Al Hijri. This newfound unity, however, could be tested if Sweida remains under siege and no supplies reach the city. Sweida's defenders Over the past week, Mr Al Hijri took control over an umbrella organisation of 3,000 fighters in Sweida, called the military council. It has been joined by thousands of Druze residents of the province, many of whom are ex-soldiers who took up arms to defend their homes. Many had acquired weapons from the 15 Division, a unit of the former army that was based in Sweida. 'They are still short of anti-tank weapons,' said one of the sources in Jordan, adding that intimate knowledge of the terrain, as well as Israeli air support had helped the Druze ward off the offensive. Although Israel has not attacked any Syrian targets from the air in the past 24 hours, its drones and other aerial reconnaissance remain posted over the skies of Sweida and over Deraa city, the launch pad of the government attacks, the source said. Attacking forces and their core The thrust of the initial offensive on Sweida last week was carried out by about 14,000 troops and auxiliaries. They were comprised of regular infantry divisions, backed by tank formations and spearheaded by sniper and special operations units. A unit of mostly Uighur foreign fighters, who specialise in penetrating urban defences and are now part of the army, was also posted to the northern outskirts of Sweida. However, Israeli air strikes forced these troops to withdraw from Sweida city to the northern and western countryside. A second wave of attacks started on Saturday, and although the fighting has been framed as being between Bedouin and Druze, regional security sources said government troops were also heavily involved. The new force, one of the sources said, is mostly the same troops who initially attacked Sweida. 'This time, they wore [tribal] robes,' one official said, adding that the government transported thousands of Bedouin in the last several days from Aleppo in the north and Deir Ezzor in the east to the western outskirts of Sweida, but the main combatants, remained government forces. The Bedouin who went to fight in Sweida with government backing belong to the Mawali and Baqqara tribes in Deir Ezzor, as well as the Okeidat tribe in Aleppo. Many members of these tribes had fought on the side of the former Assad regime in the 2011 to 2024 civil war but turned loyal to the new authorities after HTS ousted the former system. 'If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria … they must help end this calamity by using their security forces to prevent ISIS and any other violent jihadists from entering the area and carrying out massacres,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X. After the US warning, issued by Mr Rubio, government troops and their auxiliaries have retreated from a line of villages and towns to the west of Sweida, but remain close by, in the governorate of Deraa. Among their main commanders is Shaher Amran, a security head in Deraa province, Ahmad Dalati, who is in charge of security in Sweida, Mouwafaq Al Dokhi, a Bedouin security official, and an intelligence operative known as Khattab, head of a newly created intelligence unit named Unit 555.
The National
7 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Spillover of Syrian violence to Lebanon adds 'new layer of worry'
Lebanon has been witnessing rising internal tensions amid the spillover of Syrian violence involving Druze communities and pro-government forces. 'The last thing we need now is more tension between different groups,' said a security source in Beirut. Hundreds were killed in days of fighting between Druze fighters and government forces and allied groups in Sweida. The southern Syrian city is a predominantly Druze city. The violence escalated significantly on Wednesday when Israel carried out strikes on Damascus, while also pressing attacks on Syrian government forces in the south. 'The violence in Syria is spreading to Lebanon. We are seeing heightened tensions between Sunnis and Druze,' the source added. The Druze are a small religious sect that emerged from a branch of Islam in the 11th century. Their faith blends elements of Islam with ancient traditions. About one million Druze live across the Middle East, mainly in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel. Lebanese security sources warned that Druze communities in some villages are expelling Syrian workers, while others have been attacking cars belonging to Syrians passing through. Meanwhile, several demonstrations in support of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara led, took place in northern Lebanon, accompanied by warnings that extremist groups are preparing for 'action,' according to the sources who did not further elaborate. Lebanon is already in a fragile state, with concerns existing over possible clashes between Hezbollah-aligned Shiites and Sunni factions linked to extremist groups. In addition to concerns of sectarian fighting, Israel has continued striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on a daily basis, despite a truce agreement reached in November. 'This Druze-Sunni tension adds a new layer of worry. We are dealing with intercommunal strife, Syrian-related unrest, a continuing conflict with Israel, and the threat of terrorist attacks. It's just too much at this point,' said another security source. The Lebanese army announced last month the arrest of the suspected leader of ISIS in Lebanon, accusing him of planning attacks. Authorities fear that dormant ISIS and other extremist cells in Lebanon could now be activated in retaliation or as part of a wider plan to destabilise the country amid renewed instability in neighbouring Syria. Although largely driven underground after a major military defeat in 2017, ISIS and other extremist groups have fought bloody battles with the Lebanese army in the past and carried out bombings against Hezbollah and its supporters. Now, with Syria's political landscape shifting after the collapse of the Assad regime last year, Lebanese officials warn that the threat is far from over.
Russia Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israel attacks Damascus
Israel attacked the headquarters of the Syrian military and locations near the presidential palace in Damascus on Wednesday. The strike, broadcast live on the Iranian ISNA television channel, was carried out after West Jerusalem issued warnings of 'painful blows' in response to Syrian military operations targeting the Druze ethnic minority. Violent clashes have been going on for several days in the city of Sweida, involving Syrian security forces supported by Bedouin groups, and Druze militants. In an effort to protect the latter, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Southern Syria. Wednesday's strikes also hit the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where a a ceasefire announced the previous evening swiftly collapsed into a fourth day of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday that it 'struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters.' 'The military headquarters in Damascus is the location from which Syrian regime commanders direct combat operations and deploy regime forces to the As-Suwayda area,' it added in a Telegram post. Security sources inside the Syrian Defense Ministry told Reuters that at least two drone strikes hit the building, forcing senior officers to take cover in a basement shelter. According to state-owned Elekhbariya TV, two civilians were wounded in the attack, though Syrian authorities have not confirmed any militant groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Damascus late last year. Following the turmoil, Israel invaded the buffer zone in southwestern Syria adjacent to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and carried out an aerial campaign. Since December, the Islamists have reportedly perpetrated several massacres of Syria's minority communities, including the Alawites, Christians, and Druze. Israel has conducted multiple strikes in Syria, citing the need to protect the Druze community. The most recent strikes followed a statement from prominent Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, who accused government troops of violating a ceasefire and called on fighters to confront what he referred to as a barbaric attack.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Israel strikes Damascus military HQ as fighting between Syrian forces and Druze continues
Update: Date: 14:32 BST Title: Who are the Druze? Content: The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs. They have historically occupied a precarious position in Syria's political order. Half its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population, while there are smaller communities in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Golan Heights. Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned he would not "tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria" from the country's new security forces. He also demanded the complete demilitarisation of much of the south, saying Israel saw Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa's Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a threat. Update: Date: 14:27 BST Title: Nine injured in Damascus strikes - Syrian health ministry Content: Nine people have been injured as a result of Israeli strikes in Damascus, according to a preliminary assessment just released by the Syrian heath ministry. Update: Date: 14:25 BST Title: Syria condemns Israeli attacks in south as 'criminal and illegal' Content: The Syrian government has not yet responded to this round of Israeli strikes, but a few hours ago it condemned what it calls Israel's "criminal and illegal behaviour" in the south of the country. In a statement, the Syrian presidency called the ongoing fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes unacceptable under any circumstances and contradictory to their principles. Israel has recently begun intervening in the conflict, saying it is doing so to protect the minority Druze community from attacks. The statement added that they will affirm their "full commitment" to investigating all the related incidents and will not allow those responsible to go unpunished. The government said that it places the highest priority on "protecting security and stability" throughout Syria, and that justice is the standard by which they operate. It concluded by reassuring the people of Suweida - a predominantly Druze city - that their rights will always be protected and that they will not allow anyone to influence their security or stability. Update: Date: 14:21 BST Title: Smoke rises over Damascus following Israeli strikes Content: We can see smoke rising above Damascus, following a new round of Israeli strikes on Syria's capital. It appears the principal target was Syria's defence ministry headquarters, as confirmed by an Israeli statement and local media reports. Update: Date: 14:16 BST Title: IDF says it struck Syrian regime's military HQ Content: We can now bring you an update from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who say its forces have struck the entrance of the Syrian government's military headquarters in the capital Damascus In a post shared on X, the IDF says it "continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria". It goes on to say that on orders from Israeli politicians, the IDF is "striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios". Update: Date: 14:05 BST Title: Israel defence minister: 'Warnings have ended and painful blows to come' Content: Shortly after Israeli strikes on Damascus began, Israel's defence minister shared a statement of intent on social media. "The warnings in Damascus have ended - now painful blows will come," Israel Katz writes. Katz says the Israeli military will "continue to operate forcefully" in Suweida, the area of southern Syria where Israel has recently intervened in clashes between the minority Druze community and other armed groups. He then speaks directly to the Druze community in Israel, saying the Israel Defense Forces will protect the Syrian Druze population. "Prime Minister Netanyahu and I, as Minister of Defence, have made a commitment - and we will uphold it," he adds. Katz also shared a video of a live TV news broadcast, showing a building in Damascus being hit by a strike and the on-air newsreader ducking for cover. Update: Date: 14:03 BST Title: Israel strikes Damascus as Syrian attacks intensify Content: Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Syria, including on the capital Damascus, as it says it is intervening in support of the minority Druze community - who are engaged in an ongoing conflict with other Syrian armed groups. Defence Minister Israel Katz has shared video of a live news broadcast which shows a direct hit on a Damascus building. We will be bringing you the latest updates from Syria here, stay with us.
The National
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Syrian forces enter Druze heartland of Sweida after deadly clashes
Syrian government forces and allied militias have entered the Druze minority's heartland of Sweida, in southern Syria, state media reported on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Israel has carried out more strikes on the area, following deadly clashes in the area between armed groups and local tribes. Thousands of troops and auxiliaries entered the city from the west and north after the Druze spiritual leadership, headed by Hikmat Al Hijri, announced that the province 'should be spared' further bloodshed, and that security forces should be let into the provincial capital to restore security and stability. The Syrian Defence Ministry said that 'Syrian Arab Army forces have started entering the city of Sweida'. But an hour after instructing Sweida residents to allow government forces into the city, Mr Al Hijri appeared in a video saying that the provincial capital continued to come under random shelling and that its people should 'make a stand for dignity'. Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra was a commander in Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, an Al Qaeda splinter group that took power after leading the overthrow of former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Mr Al Hijri had labelled the HTS government as 'extremists', who he said were not interested in building a civil and pluralistic post-Assad state. A Druze political figure close to Mr Al Hijri said that the authorities have received a 'green light' from Thomas Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, to enter the city. Elsewhere, Mr Barrack has been pushing for an extension of government control over parts of east Syria which are under Kurdish-led forces. In the absence of international protection, the Druze have no option except to lay down their arms, the source said. 'This is Barrack's doing. We are being attacked by than 100,000 regime forces,' he said. Sweida is home to most of Syria's registered 800,000 Druze. But many have emigrated, particularly during the civil war, with an estimated 270,000 Druze still remaining in the city. The Druze, an offshoot of Islam, are also present in Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. In a failed attempt to ward off the government's advance, Israel launched air strikes on southern Syria on Monday after dozens of people were killed in the fightingbetween allies of the Syrian government and Druze fighters. Syria's Sana news agency on Tuesday reported an Israeli strike on the city. About 38 Druze were killed in clashes that started on Sunday. The Defence Ministry said 18 its troops were among the dead, while an estimated 30 government auxiliaries were also killed. Druze sources said pro-Syrian government militias on Sunday launched attacks on the city of Suweida from Sunni areas to its west as the province came under siege by government forces. A war monitor put the total death toll at 89 on Monday. On Sunday, at least one Druze town was seized by militias from neighbouring Deraa, in the worst violence against the Druze community since clashes in April, sources said. Sweida and parts of eastern Syria, where the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces are in control, are the only areas where the government does not fully exert control. The leadership of both the Kurds and the Druze have opposed what they describe as HTS's religious agenda under Syria's new President, Ahmad Al Shara. The latest clashes in Sweida started last week after Fadlalah Duwara, a vegetable seller and member of the Druze community, was abducted while driving his lorry on the main road from Sweida to Damascus, which is under government control. His tribe responded by abducting a man in a Sunni neighbourhood of Sweida. The area is inhabited by members of Bedouin tribes who moved to the city decades ago from a rugged region on the outskirts.
