Latest news with #Hikmatal-Hajri
Canberra Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Canberra Times
Israel vows to protect Druze as it strikes Syrian city
Israel, which has struck Syria several times in the name of protecting the Druze, carried out its latest attacks after influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri issued a statement accusing government troops of breaching a ceasefire and urging fighters to confront what he described as a barbaric attack.
TimesLIVE
20 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Syrian Druze leader urges fighters to confront incoming government troops
A leading Druze spiritual leader accused the Syrian leadership in Damascus of bombarding the southern city of Sweida despite having reached an agreement to quell violence, and called on fighters to confront Syrian troops entering the city. The video statement by influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri on Tuesday poses a challenge for the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad last December and is seeking to bring all Syrian territory under centralised rule after nearly 14 years of war that had left the country divided into enclaves. For months, Druze leaders said they did not trust the new Syrian government and pushed back against the presence of their troops, saying they would secure Sweida with their own local fighters. Neighbouring Israel also conducted strikes on Syrian troops in Sweida and near Damascus with the stated aim of protecting the Druze minority, which is an offshoot of Islam with adherents in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. However, earlier this week, heavy fighting broke out between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced. Syria's defence and interior ministries dispatched units to quell the fighting and exert control over the province.
Middle East Eye
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Syrian Druze leaders urge fighters to 'resist' incoming government troops
Druze leaders have urged local fighters in Sweida to resist incoming Syrian government forces as violence continues to escalate in the southern governorate. Syria's state news agency said Israel had also launched air strikes on Sweida, which has witnessed days of fighting between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters. The clashes erupted after a Druze merchant was reportedly abducted on a highway to Damascus. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, at least 99 people have been killed across the governorate. A curfew was set to be imposed in Sweida to stem the violence, while Syrian military columns could be seen heading into the governorate on Tuesday. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Syrian Ministry of Defence said they had entered the city, and called on people to 'stay home and report any movements of outlaw groups'. Earlier on Tuesday, the spiritual leaders of the Druze community said in a written statement that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the violence. The statement called for armed groups to surrender their weapons and cooperate with incoming troops. But just hours later, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri released a video statement in which he said the initial statement had been "imposed" on them and accused the government of bombarding the city with artillery. "We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said. He called on locals "to confront this barbaric campaign with all means available". Al-Arabiya later reported that government forces had begun withdrawing their heavy vehicles from Sweida. Post-war violence Syria has seen a range of sectarian violence across the country in the wake of the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in December after 14 years of war. The worst violence has been seen in the western governorate of Latakia, where more than a thousand members of the Alawite minority were killed after clashes broke out between government-aligned forces and armed groups sympathetic to Assad. Syria: Dozens killed in clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin groups Read More » However, the Druze community in Sweida have also become increasingly concerned about the potential for violence under the new government, which is led by former members of an al-Qaeda-linked group that once carried out sectarian killings of Druze villagers. The SOHR said the dead since Sunday has included 60 Druze - including four civilians - 18 Bedouin fighters, 14 security personnel and seven unidentified people in military uniforms. The Syrian Ministry of Defence also reported 18 deaths amongst the armed forces. On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area," claiming they could pose a threat to Israel. Further air strikes were reported on Tuesday. While citing its own security concerns, Israel has also justified its attacks on southern Syria by saying it has a duty to protect minority groups.
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Syrian Druze spiritual leader urges local fighters to confront incoming gov't troops
SWEIDA, Syria - A leading Druze spiritual leader accused the Syrian leadership in Damascus of bombarding the southern city of Sweida despite having reached an agreement to quell violence, and he called on fighters to confront Syrian troops entering the city. The video statement by influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri on Tuesday poses a challenge for the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad last December and is seeking to bring all of Syrian territory under centralised rule after nearly 14 years of war that had left the country divided into separate enclaves. For months, Druze leaders said they did not trust the new Syrian government and pushed back against the presence of their troops, saying they would secure Sweida with their own local fighters. Neighbouring Israel also conducted strikes on Syrian troops in Sweida and near Damascus with the stated aim of protecting the Druze minority, which is an offshoot of Islam with adherents in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. But earlier this week, a new round of heavy fighting broke out between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced. Syria's defence and interior ministries dispatched units to quell the fighting and exert control over the province. The Druze spiritual leadership said in a written statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and cooperate with incoming troops. 'Total war of extermination' But hours later, al-Hajri, who has been strongly opposed to the new leadership in Damascus, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and that Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents. "We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement, calling on all Druze "to confront this barbaric campaign with all means available". Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, a Reuters reporter in Sweida said. The reporter said Israeli warplanes could be seen flying above the city, but there were no immediate reports of strikes. On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel. Israel said earlier this year that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone. But some of those tensions had calmed after Israel and Syria began direct talks to prevent conflict in the border region between the two longtime foes. — Reuters
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Syrian Druze leader urges local fighters to confront incoming government troops
SWEIDA - A leading Druze spiritual leader accused the Syrian leadership in Damascus of bombarding the southern city of Sweida despite having reached an agreement to quell violence, and he called on fighters to confront Syrian troops entering the city. The video statement by influential Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri on Tuesday poses a challenge for the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose forces toppled former leader Bashar al-Assad last December and is seeking to bring all of Syrian territory under centralised rule after nearly 14 years of war that had left the country divided into separate enclaves. For months, Druze leaders said they did not trust the new Syrian government and pushed back against the presence of their troops, saying they would secure Sweida with their own local fighters. Neighbouring Israel also conducted strikes on Syrian troops in Sweida and near Damascus with the stated aim of protecting the Druze minority, which is an offshoot of Islam with adherents in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. But earlier this week, a new round of heavy fighting broke out between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters in Sweida province, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced. Syria's defence and interior ministries dispatched units to quell the fighting and exert control over the province. The Druze spiritual leadership said in a written statement on Tuesday morning that it would allow Syrian forces to enter Sweida city to stop the bloodshed, calling on armed groups to surrender their weapons and cooperate with incoming troops. 'TOTAL WAR OF EXTERMINATION' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw acts against 4 law firms and 1 lawyer over seized properties Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar Singapore Real estate firm PropNex donates $6 million to Community Chest for 25th anniversary Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT gets 15.8 per cent capacity boost with new trains Singapore Air India crash: SIA, Scoot find no issues with Boeing 787 fuel switches after precautionary checks Singapore $230,000 in fines issued after MOM checks safety at over 500 workplaces from April to June Multimedia From local to global: What made top news in Singapore over the last 180 years? But hours later, al-Hajri, who has been strongly opposed to the new leadership in Damascus, said the statement had been "imposed" on them by Damascus and that Syrian troops had breached the arrangement by continuing to fire on residents. "We are being subject to a total war of extermination," he said in a recorded video statement, calling on all Druze "to confront this barbaric campaign with all means available". Convoys of Syrian army tanks, trucks and motorcycles entered parts of Sweida city by mid-morning and were continuing to fire on neighbourhoods there, a Reuters reporter in Sweida said. The reporter said Israeli warplanes could be seen flying above the city, but there were no immediate reports of strikes. On Monday, Israel's military said it had carried out several strikes on tanks approaching Sweida "to prevent their arrival to the area" because they could pose a threat to Israel. Israel said earlier this year that it would not allow Syria's new army to deploy south of Damascus and that Sweida and neighbouring provinces should make up a demilitarized zone. But some of those tensions had calmed after Israel and Syria began direct talks to prevent conflict in the border region between the two longtime foes. REUTERS
