Latest news with #Hikmatal-Hijri
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Syrian troops positioned outside Sweida city as violence continues
DAMASCUS, Syria - Syrian government troops have returned to the outskirts of the embattled city of Sweida, security sources and eyewitnesses said on Friday, amid reports of further violence in nearby villages. The troops were preparing to re-enter the city to act as a buffer between warring Sunni Bedouins and Druze, the sources said. Days of deadly fighting in the city have left over 500 people dead, amid reports of atrocities carried out against civilians. Syrian official Nour al-Din al-Baba denied media reports that troops had entered the city, and accused media outlets of spreading disinformation. The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, denounced any re-entry of government troops into Sweida. A Druze source close to al-Hijri told dpa, "We do not trust government forces because they are backing the Bedouin tribes." Representatives of Arab tribal militias - who claim to have mobilized tens of thousands of fighters from across Syria in support of the Bedouins - have also warned the government against intervening. Clashes continue near Sweidacity Violent armed clashes broke out on Friday between fighters from Bedouin tribes and local Druze militias, a war monitoring group and eyewitnesses said. The confrontations occurred near the village of Walgha, on the western outskirts of Sweida city, and the village of al-Surah al-Kabira, the sources said. Inside the city of Sweida itself, a tense calm is prevailing, a Druze resident of the city told dpa. "Everyone is cautious. We moved our families to safer areas. Men stayed in the city to protect it and protect our properties," said the man, who did not want to reveal his name for security reasons. The city, home to nearly 400,000 people - mostly Druze - has seen deadly clashes between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes since Sunday, prompting many Bedouin families to flee. The U.K.-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has accused government forces of executing 83 Druze civilians, raising concerns of possible war crimes. The situation briefly de-escalated after international mediation and an Israeli airstrike on Syrian government targets, but violence has since resumed. Israeli aid package In a show of support, Israel announced an emergency humanitarian aid package worth 2 million shekels ($590,000) for the Druze in Sweida. The aid includes food, medical supplies, and first aid kits, and will be airdropped into affected Druze areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel has a duty to protect the Druze, and underlined the group's unique status in Israeli society. The Druze serve in the Israeli military, unlike Muslim and Christian Arabs. The Druze in Sweida province have enjoyed considerable autonomy, even during Syria's civil war, and many were supporters of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Many of them are sceptical of the Sunni Islamist-led transitional government now in charge in Damascus. ---------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Are The Druze And Why Sweida Has Become Epicenter Of Syria's Latest Unrest?
Last Updated: The Syrian government's deployment to Sweida has escalated tensions, causing clashes with Druze factions and Israeli military involvement. The Syrian government's deployment of forces to the Druze-majority city of Sweida has triggered a dangerous escalation in southern Syria. The move, described by observers as an attempt by the new Islamist authorities in Damascus to assert full control over the region, has raised fears of wider conflict. What Triggered Violence In Sweida? The clashes began on Sunday as fighting erupted between factions from the Druze religious minority and Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes. The two groups have a long-standing rivalry in the region and this latest round of violence left over 100 people dead. In response, Syrian government forces deployed reinforcements to Sweida, claiming the aim was to restore order. However, reports from local witnesses, Druze armed groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government troops, alongside Bedouin allies, seized several villages that were previously controlled by Druze factions. What Happened Next? By Monday, the Syrian government had entered parts of Sweida. On Tuesday, Damascus announced a ceasefire, following talks with local Druze notables. The Syrian defence ministry said it had entered the city peacefully but one of the top Druze spiritual leaders, Hikmat al-Hijri, accused the government of breaking that promise. He called on people to 'resist this brutal campaign by all available means." For much of Syria's 14-year civil war, Sweida remained under the de facto control of Druze militias. These groups, including the influential Men of Dignity movement and the Mountain Brigade, had stayed largely autonomous, defending their territory but avoiding deeper involvement in the broader conflict. After Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December, Syria's new rulers demanded that all armed factions dissolve and integrate into the national army. In January, the two largest Druze groups expressed readiness to do so but said that the state has delayed acting on that agreement. Now, as the government forces entered their territory by force, those tensions have boiled over. Who Are The Druze? The Druze are a secretive religious community that emerged in the 10th century as a breakaway from Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Prior to the war, Syria was home to around 700,000 Druze- about 3% of the population. Today, around 150,000 live in Sweida. Druze communities are also found in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Suwayda: Al-Hijri urges humanitarian corridor through Kurdish areas to Jordan
Shafaq News – Suwayda Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze religious leader in Syria, declared Suwayda province a 'disaster-stricken area' on Thursday and called for a period of public mourning following days of deadly violence. In a statement, al-Hijri urged authorities to open roads leading toward Kurdish-controlled areas and appealed directly to Jordan's King Abdullah II to "instruct the opening of a border crossing between Sweida and Jordan, given its urgent humanitarian importance under the current circumstances." He also called for practical steps to ease communication and reduce the suffering of residents. Al-Hijri described the recent violence in Suwayda as a 'brutal crime,' adding that 'the pure blood spilled on Sweida's soil will not be in vain, but will serve as a beacon of dignity and resilience.' Urging the Druze community to unite, support the families of the victims, he emphasized facilitating the work of medical teams and groups documenting the violations.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sheikh al-Hijri denies Suwayda ceasefire as fighting rages
Shafaq News – Damascus Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, denied on Wednesday the existence of any agreement or negotiations with what he described as 'armed terrorist gangs falsely claiming to be a government,' vowing to continue the fight until 'the complete liberation of Suwayda from these groups.' In a statement, al-Hijri called on Druze community members to persist in confronting what he described as forces responsible for killings, looting, and arson. He assured that those who surrender their weapons will not face abuse or reprisals, but warned that any individual who violates the community's unified stance through separate agreements would face 'legal and social accountability.' His remarks came just hours after Syria's Ministry of Interior and prominent Druze figures announced a ceasefire agreement in Suwayda following several days of deadly clashes. Sheikh Youssef Jarbou', another senior Druze leader, said the deal includes withdrawal of army units to their bases, regulation of heavy weapons, and restoration of internal security through local forces. It also provides for the reopening of the Damascus–Suwayda highway, a joint investigative committee to address abuses, and compensation for affected families. بنود الاتفاق لوقف إطلاق النار ونشر الحواجز الأمنية داخل السويداء واندماجها الكامل ضمن الدولة السورية #الجمهورية_العربية_السورية #وزارة_الداخلية — وزارة الداخلية السورية (@syrianmoi) July 16, 2025 State media outlet SANA, citing an Interior Ministry source, reported that the agreement would see the deployment of official security checkpoints and the integration of Druze community leaders into a joint monitoring committee to oversee implementation.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will Israel's airstrikes help the Druze in Syria?
Israel's intervention escalated with more airstrikes and officials' comments, raising questions about what might come next and if the limited intervention will help the Druze. Violence continued in southern Syria on Tuesday. Syrian government forces and local tribes clashed with Druze fighters in the city of Sweida. Israel's intervention also appeared to escalate, with more airstrikes and comments from officials. This leads to the question of what might come next and whether Israel's limited intervention will help the Druze. The Druze region in Syria is complex, and the people there are divided. Some appear to back Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader who has opposed the new government in Damascus. Others back other factions and may prefer more accommodation with Damascus. None of them want to see their area overrun by extremists and enemies. The Druze are in a precarious situation. Their community is armed, and many of the men have military training from having served in the army. They have a long tradition of seeking to have some autonomy in their region. They also likely understand that the new government in Syria wants to control their region and limit their independence. The question now is whether the government can come to an agreement that leads to peace, or whether this smoldering conflict will merely see the can kicked down the road until the next round. There have already been at least three rounds of serious clashes with the new authorities in Damascus. Usually, these are fueled by local squabbles, and each side blames the other. There are also extremist voices in Syria who are against the Druze and threaten them. At the same time, the Druze may also be involved in provoking some of these clashes. In a conflict, it is not always a simple story, and Syria is a complex mosaic of groups and interests. What is Israel's interest in this? Israel has a large Druze community. Protests broke out in northern Israel on Tuesday. Clearly, Israeli Druze do not want to see their comrades harmed in Syria. Do they want more intervention than just airstrikes? Might they prefer a back-channel discussion with Damascus to ease tensions? In the past, other Druze leaders have tried to help the Syrian government of Ahmed al-Sharaa come to an agreement with leaders in Suwadya, the capital of the Druze area in southern Syria. Walid Jumblatt from Lebanon is one example of a foreign Druze leader who might be able to help. Can Israel also assist? Perhaps. Will airstrikes stop the forces from Damascus? The Syrian government has been told by Israel since early this year that Israel wants southern Syria demilitarized. This means any tanks and armored personnel carriers may become targets in southern Syria. The Syrian government doesn't have many armored vehicles. It does have more and more trained forces, including several divisions of troops. It also has some armed gangs that back the government but have previous affiliations with extremist groups. These groups tend to be what could be described as 'jihadists,' and they tend to be Sunni extremists. They dislike the Druze when they feel the Druze are not obeying the state or are just appearing to submit to Damascus. This is a sensitive time in Syria. Many countries want to invest in Damascus, including Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Azerbaijan, and the US. European countries want a stable Syria after 14 years of civil war. It's unlikely anyone wants to see more clashes in Sweida. As long as some Druze factions feel they can use arms to get what they want, however, and they have Israel's backing, it's unlikely that the clashes will end. At the same time, the government in Damascus may become angrier at Israel if it feels Israel is stirring up sectarian tensions or providing a kind of air force for the Druze. That means Israel's policy could backfire and lead to more resentment. On the other hand, the policy could also work and deter Damascus from unleashing extremists. Damascus is on notice not to do what it did in Latakia, when it sent gangs to attack Alawites. Will airstrikes weaken the right units of the government? The question for Damascus is whether the Israeli airstrikes will weaken the right units of the government. Will the airstrikes embolden the extremists, who arrive in civilian-style vehicles that Israel would likely be less keen on using airstrikes against? Basically, it's easier for an air force to strike tanks and APCs than random trucks with guys in them. Israel can't really conduct an air war in Syria against the Syrian government. Eventually, this would likely cause the Trump administration to try to cool things down. This is because the White House wants to see a stable Syria. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has sought to bring Syria in from the cold and help it integrate into the region. As such, clashes in Sweida are always a setback. The Druze leader Hijri has accused the government of breaking promises. The Syrian government wants a ceasefire. '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,' Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said. Nevertheless, the death toll has reportedly risen to 100. The Druze fear they may face attacks, ethnic cleansing, or worse. Some Druze want to see international intervention. Others seem to hope the government may help reduce tensions. 'Earlier, the Druze leadership had issued a statement calling on fighters in Sweida to cooperate with incoming regime forces and stop clashes to protect civilians and state institutions,' Rudaw media, based in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, reported. '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.' Israel was more outspoken on Tuesday as well. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement, and the IDF said it had carried out airstrikes against what it termed the Syrian 'regime.' The regime was the term once used for the Assad regime. Since last December, when the Assad regime fell, Israel has been more aggressive in Syria. The airstrikes against forces linked to the new government are an example. During Israel's campaign between the wars in Syria, when it struck Iranian assets in Syria, the IDF rarely targeted Syrian regime forces. This is a major contrast. Najat Rochdi, the UN's deputy special envoy for Syria, expressed 'deep concern over reports of violence and abductions' in the Druze region. She called on Damascus to protect civilians and restore calm, Rudaw reported. The death toll had reached almost 100 people, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported earlier in the day. Meanwhile, news of a ceasefire in Suwadya was greeted positively in Lebanon by Jumblatt. He praised 'reaching a lasting solution within the framework of the state.' Jumblatt called for incitement to end. He also said 'outlaw groups in Sweida must hand over weapons to the state.' Israel wants to fuel the fighting in Syria, he added, according to Syria's official Syrian Arab News Agency.
