Latest news with #Hikmatal-Hajari
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Sunni fighters threaten to ‘burn' Suwayda despite ceasefire
Also in Syria Secretary Rubio warns Damascus over Suwayda violence as tribal forces withdraw 'They're erasing our identity': Suwayda native in Erbil pleads for end to violence Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The pro-government Sunni fighters are threatening to attack the southern Druze-majority province of Suwayda and 'burn' all inside if their alleged hostages are not released by Druze militants. A war monitor reported over a thousand deaths in the latest sectarian conflict. 'We will take our revenge - our prisoners are inside, our martyrs are inside, our killed ones, and our women,' a fighter affiliated with the Sunni Bedouin tribes told Rudaw while waiting at the entrance of Suwayda province along with dozens others. They were attempting to enter the province to resume clashes with the Druze fighters but were stopped by state security forces who had been deployed to implement a US-brokered ceasefire. The tribal fighter added that they do not have an issue with the Druze community, except for Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, the most prominent Druze spiritual leader who has rebelled against Damascus and whose fighters have been entangled in days of clashes with the Bedouin tribes. 'We will burn Suwayda along with all those inside. We are bearing the dignity of the homeland and the dignity of the president [Ahmed al-Sharaa]. We are waiting for the president's words,' the angry fighter noted, claiming that the Druze militants are holding Bedouin hostages. Clashes have continued between Druze fighters and tribal groups in Suwayda, pushing the death toll to at least 1,017 despite the ongoing ceasefire announced earlier on Saturday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Rami Abdulrahman, head of the war monitor, told Rudaw English on Sunday that among the dead are 440 residents of Suwayda, including 104 civilians. Of those civilians, six were children and 16 were women. Another 361 fatalities were from the defense ministry and state-linked General Security elements, including 18 Bedouin tribal members and one Lebanese national gunman. Another Bedouin fighter told Rudaw at the entrance of Suwayda that his main concerns are the members of his tribe who have allegedly been held hostage by the Druze inside Suwayda. 'We are with the truce but I swear by God if they violate the ceasefire no one can stop us, including the president and minister of finance. Let them [Syrian state forces] withdraw [from Suwayda] now and leave the matter to the tribes, to the people of Syria - not Israel and not America or any country. No one will stop us,' he said. Many other fighters around him were furious and called for revenge. The fighting erupted between the Druze and Bedouin tribes on July 13, leading to a regional crisis as Israel intervened in support of the Druze - hitting several targets - including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. The ceasefire between Israel and Syria - brokered by Washington - was announced Saturday by the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack. There have been several ceasefires by the Syrian government in Suwayda, none of which have lasted. The latest ceasefire plan, according to Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa, consists of three phases: the initial deployment of internal security forces to de-escalate clashes and secure key routes, followed by the opening of humanitarian corridors between Daraa and Suwayda to allow the evacuation of civilians and wounded, and finally, the gradual reactivation of state institutions and full restoration of law and order. On Sunday, Mustafa blamed the deterioration of the security situation on 'flagrant Israeli intervention' and the subsequent withdrawal of Syrian security forces as part of international mediation. 'This has resulted in the loss of the ability to uphold order and stability in the region, impacting the capacity for continued humanitarian operations and the provision of basic needs for the civilian population,' he added. Meanwhile, the Syrian foreign ministry accused 'outlawed armed militias affiliated with Hikmat al-Hajri,' the Druze sheikh, of preventing aid deliveries into the province since Wednesday. Only a limited number of Syrian Arab Red Cross vehicles have been allowed to enter, according to the ministry. The new Syrian authorities who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December have come under criticism for doing little to protect minorities since coming to power. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday that the latest clashes in Suwayda have displaced a total of 128,000 individuals, reported AFP. Barrack said on Sunday that all parties have ceased hostilities. 'As of 17:00 Damascus time, all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities. The next foundation stone on a path to inclusion, and lasting de-escalation, is a complete exchange of hostages and detainees, the logistics of which are in process,' he said on X. Solin Mohammedamin contributed to this article.
Rudaw Net
7 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."
