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Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
What part did Druze leader al-Hijri play in Syria violence?
What part did Druze leader al-Hijri play in Syria violence? Over the last ten days or so, as deadly violence broke out in the southern Syrian province of Sweida, there was one name that kept coming up: Hikmat al-Hijri. The 60-year-old spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community played a major role in events that saw over 500 people killed and threatened to overturn Syria's fragile transition, after decades ruled by a dictatorship. Al-Hijri's critics have blamed his belligerent attitude towards the new Syrian government for what happened as violence escalated. They describe him as an "unhinged warlord," a power-hungry traitor to his country and a drug smuggler with ties to remnants of the ousted Syrian dictatorship's military. But his fans say the Druze spiritual leader is a "symbol of dignity and nobility," who was right to defend his community against the overbearing new Syrian government and their potentially dangerous followers. Inherited power The position of Druze spiritual leader is inherited and after his older brother, Ahmad, died in an unexplained car accident in 2012 — the Assad regime was suspected — the younger al-Hijri, born June 1965 in Venezuela, was given the post. He is one of the three main religious leaders of the Druze community in Syria. The others are Yousef Jarbou and Hammoud al-Hanawi. The spiritual leaders are seen as a reference point on social, moral and religious matters and for any major decisions, there is supposed to be consensus between all three. While the Assad regime was in power, and during the Syrian civil war, which started 2011 and ended 2024, al-Hijri's position might best be described as one of politically expediency. At times he openly supported the Assad regime, urging young Druze to fight for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. But by 2023, he was speaking for Druze protestors and against the regime. He was not alone in this though. The other two Druze spiritual leaders also supported the Assad regime at times. There has also been squabbling among the three over who is the primary leader of the Druze community in Syria and who speaks for it. Reports suggest that Jarbou and al-Hanawi split from al-Hijri because of this. Villain or hero? Since the ouster of the Assad regime and the formation of a new, interim government, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of an Islamist rebel group that headed the December offensive against Assad, al-Hijri has become even more controversial. The Druze mainly live in the southern Syrian province of Sweida and just like Syria's Kurds, the community has been negotiating its involvement in the new Syria. Syria is a Sunni-majority country — Sunni Muslims make up about 70% of the country's population — and the various Syrian religious and ethnic minorities have been concerned about their future in it. Some, like the Kurds, have suggested they be allowed to run their own areas, which has sparked fears the country could be split into different zones. There have also been ongoing talks on how to integrate armed militias around the country into a central military and whether the state should have a monopoly over arms. These are the kinds of negotiations that al-Hijri has been involved in. He is considered the most belligerent when it comes to cooperating with the country's new leaders, with an absolutist attitude that differs to that of Jarbou and al-Hanawi, who have generally been more conciliatory and advocated finding ways to come to terms with al-Sharaa's government. For example, in March a handwritten memorandum of understanding between the government and Druze authorities was circulated, saying the Druze and the central government had come to an agreement about their mutual future. Al-Hijri was at the meeting where it was drafted but didn't sign it and then later said he disagreed with it. The interim government doesn't have total control of national security and recent outbreaks of violence (in which some government soldiers may well have been involved) haven't done much to assure minority communities they'll be safe. This is why some believe that al-Hijri's attitude is the correct one. What did al-Hijri do during recent violence? Since July 13, after tit-for-tat kidnapping between the Druze and Bedouin communities blew up into major fighting, several ceasefires were negotiated and even agreed to, including by other Druze leaders. However, after first agreeing, al-Hijri rejected them. Some observers say he was right to do so. British-Iraqi researcher and analyst Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi says he spoke to leaders of Druze fighters in Sweida, who had previously disagreed with al-Hijri's anti-government stance. But they told him, "at the same time, discussions were taking place on initiatives such as forming joint patrols between local [Sweida] factions and the internal [Syrian government] security forces, violations were being committed by the government forces," al-Tamimi wrote on his Substack page this week. During this month's violence, every side has been accused of atrocities — the Druze fighters, the Sunni fighters and the government forces. Online disinformation has been rampant and until the violence has been investigated, it will be difficult to know exactly who was responsible for what. Al-Hijri's views on the new government are allegedly supported by a body called the Sweida Military Council, which was created shortly after the Assad regime fell. Critics accuse the council of protecting military remnants of the Assad regime and say it may be involved in drug smuggling and other crimes. Traitor to Syria? Syrian Sunni fighters elsewhere in the country responded to the violence, saying they would travel to fight the Druze in Sweida. Al-Hijri called on the international community, including the US and Israel, to protect the Druze. Later that same day, July 16, Israel bombed central Damascus. This is what led to al-Hijri being called a traitor to his country. That anger about Israel — the two countries are still considered to be at war — was also mistakenly extended to the Druze community in general, with other Syrians saying they must all be traitors. Fast-moving events, entrenched attitudes and long-simmering prejudices make it almost impossible to tell who are the villains or heroes of recent events. Possibly what al-Hijri currently represents most of all is the lack of consensus in the Druze community. There's no doubt that recent events, in which al-Hijri's attitude and opinions likely escalated violence, have deepened sectarian tensions in a Syria scarred by communal insecurity. A ceasefire seems to be holding but after the violence of the past week, one thing is becoming clearer: Even as other Druze leaders in Lebanon continue to urge diplomacy, the Syrian Druze community's feelings towards their new central government appear to be hardening.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel-Syria conflict: News anchor runs for cover as Israeli strike rocks Damascus, hits Army HQ and TV studio
A Syrian news anchor was mid-broadcast when explosions rocked the state TV building in Damascus. Cameras caught the anchor bolting from the set as Israeli airstrikes smashed into the compound late Wednesday. The footage spread instantly — an unfiltered glimpse of a conflict that has just torn open another front. Israel confirmed its jets targeted the TV building alongside other high-level military sites in the capital. One strike blew open the entrance to Syria's General Staff Compound, the nerve centre for operations and troop movements across the country. — Israel_katz (@Israel_katz) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Freedom Holding Corp Joins FXO ETF Alongside Berkshire Hathaway and Citigroup TechBullion Undo Targets: HQs and the Presidential palace The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released videos showing missiles hitting the General Staff Compound. Another hit landed near Syria's Presidential Palace, perched on a hill above Damascus. Witnesses told AFP they heard blasts and saw smoke curling above the palace. A local woman, afraid to be named, said she watched from her balcony as the city skyline lit up. Syrian state TV, quoting AFP, confirmed the 'entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters' was struck. Later, Israel's military said a 'military target in the area of the Syrian regime's Presidential Palace in Damascus was struck' too. Live Events Israel says it's defending the Druze So, what sparked this? Israel says the raids are a direct response to attacks on Druze civilians in Syria's south, especially in Sweida province. The IDF insists the airstrikes are happening 'in accordance with directives from the political echelon' and are meant to stop threats near Israel's border. Defence Minister Israel Katz didn't mince words. 'The Syrian regime must pull back and leave the Druze community in Sweida alone,' he said. 'Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria.' Katz later posted the viral video of the disrupted broadcast on X, writing, 'The painful blows have begun.' Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar joined the warnings, calling Syria's government 'an unelected regime that seized power by force of arms.' He added, 'Israel's interests in this country are well known: to keep the situation as it is and to ensure that southern Syria does not pose a threat.' Ceasefire collapses, fighting erupts Sweida had stayed relatively calm for years. But a local ceasefire between Druze militias and government troops fell apart recently. Tit-for-tat kidnappings between Druze factions and Sunni Bedouin tribes escalated into street battles and heavy shelling. Assad's old army, now loyal to Syria's new Sunni-majority rulers, blames the militias for breaking the truce and vows to 'restore stability'. Reports say the fighting has grown brutal. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights puts the death toll at over 250, including 21 people allegedly executed on the spot. Armed factions and government units alike stand accused of extrajudicial killings and looting. Assad gone, but the chaos stays All this turmoil follows the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad last December. A rebel push swept him out after nearly 14 years of civil war. His removal hasn't brought peace. Instead, the Sunni-led government now faces pushback from minorities like the Druze and holdout loyalists. The Druze, spread across Syria, Lebanon and Israel, are caught in the crossfire. Some back the new rulers. Others want autonomy in Sweida, which has become the symbol of that deep divide. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Druze not to cross into Syria, after dozens moved back and forth across the armistice line during the fighting. 'Do not cross the border,' he warned, calling the situation in Sweida 'very serious'. Israel has started moving troops from Gaza to its northern border. Katz says the army will keep striking Syrian positions until regime forces back away. 'The warnings in Damascus have ended — now come the painful blows,' he wrote on X. 'Our Druze brothers in Israel, you can rely on the Israel Defense Forces to protect your brothers in Syria.' Washington, meanwhile, is trying to talk to both sides. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, 'We're talking to both sides, all the relevant sides on this and hopefully we can bring it to a conclusion, but we're very concerned.' One thing is clear. The live TV broadcast that ended in panic shows just how fast this can spiral. A ceasefire gone, a capital bombed on camera and a religious minority caught between bigger powers. Israel says it's protecting the Druze. Syria says civilians are paying the price. And in Damascus, the TV lights flicker back on, ready for whatever hits next.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel strikes Syria's military HQ in Damascus; civilian toll crosses 250 in Sweida amid escalating tensions — top developments
Image used for representative purposes Israel launched a direct strike on the Syrian regime's military headquarters in Damascus late Wednesday, blowing open the entrance gate of the defense compound in a rare and high-profile escalation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike was carried out in response to the Syrian regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria, where fighting has intensified following the collapse of a local ceasefire. The IDF confirmed it is conducting ongoing strikes in the area 'in accordance with directives from the political echelon' and said it remains on alert as tensions continue to rise along the northern frontier. Israeli military action in Damascus The Israeli army stated that the strike targeted military infrastructure near the Syrian Defense Ministry, part of a broader campaign to disrupt regime convoys and deter threats near Israel's northern border. Tel Aviv said the airstrike was aimed at 'protecting the Druze population' amid the resurgence of fighting in Sweida province. "A short while ago, the IDF struck the entrance gate of the Syrian regime's military headquarters compound in the Damascus area of Syria," said the Israeli War Room. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo "In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is carrying out strikes in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios," it added. Other reports from the Associated Press claimed that Israel struck near Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus. This follows multiple Israeli air operations recently, as tensions rise over alleged involvement of Islamist militants in the region and fears of spillover into Israeli territory. Ceasefire collapse sparks renewed clashes in Sweida In Sweida, a fragile ceasefire between Syrian government forces and local Druze militias broke down, triggering intense street battles and renewed shelling. Syria's Defense Ministry accused armed factions of breaching the truce and announced the resumption of military operations to "restore stability" and ensure civilian safety. The breakdown of peace efforts has raised alarms about the risk of prolonged sectarian conflict, particularly in a province that had previously remained relatively insulated from much of the civil war. Background: Syria's new leadership faces growing unrest The flare-up follows the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in a surprise rebel offensive last December, which effectively ended a nearly 14-year civil war. A new Sunni-majority leadership now governs Syria but faces persistent resistance from minority groups and former regime loyalists. The Druze community, a religious minority with deep roots in southern Syria, has emerged as a flashpoint in the country's fragile post-war landscape. Internal divisions have surfaced over their future under the new regime, with some pushing for autonomy. Casualties mount as violence spreads What began as tit-for-tat abductions between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze factions has spiraled into a wider conflict. Security forces have reportedly engaged in extrajudicial killings and widespread looting, with several homes torched in retaliatory raids. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 250 fatalities so far, including 21 individuals allegedly executed in the field. Both government troops and armed militias have been accused of committing abuses against civilians, as reported by AP. Israel vows continued strikes unless Syrian forces withdraw Israel has hardened its stance against the new Syrian regime, citing the presence of hostile Islamist groups near its border. Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier declared that Israeli forces would sustain airstrikes "until regime troops are removed from the area." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced Israel's strategic objective of maintaining a demilitarized buffer zone, reiterating the state's commitment to defending the Druze population in Syria. Druze remain caught in the crossfire The Druze, an esoteric religious sect with communities across Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, are increasingly divided over how to navigate the shifting political dynamics. While some support integration under the new government, others advocate for a self-governed Druze region. The escalating violence in Sweida has exposed those divisions and placed the Druze at the center of a volatile regional equation, with major implications for Syrian sovereignty and Israeli security.
Ya Libnan
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Time for Ahmed al-Sharaa to protect Syria's minorities before the country disintegrates
Time for Ahmed al-Sharaa to Protect Syria's Minorities Before the Country Disintegrates More than a decade after the Syrian revolution began, a new chapter is being written—but instead of hope, it is soaked in fear, especially for Syria's minority communities. With the collapse of the Assad regime, the rise of a Sunni-majority leadership under figures like Ahmed al-Sharaa has brought not stability, but renewed anxiety. Minorities such as the Druze, Alawites, and Christians—once wary of Assad but now terrified of what follows—are facing systematic violence and abandonment. Ahmed al-Sharaa is not just any leader. He is a former jihadist figure with documented ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS. His sudden transformation into a statesman has done little to reassure those who remember the cruelty of Syria's darkest years. While he and his allies now speak the language of governance and unity, the ground reality tells a very different story. Clashes in the city of Sweida, a Druze stronghold in southern Syria, have left at least 37 people dead and scores wounded. Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters have once again taken up arms, and the state—under Sharaa's leadership—has responded with silence or token de-escalation efforts. Hundreds of Druze, Alawites, and Christians have been killed since Sharaa's emergence, yet the government has made no real effort to protect them or hold attackers accountable. These aren't isolated incidents. They are part of a disturbing pattern that suggests the new rulers are either unwilling or incapable of protecting Syria's rich mosaic of identities. The result is a growing exodus, as minorities increasingly view departure as their only guarantee of survival. This failure to govern inclusively not only betrays Syria's remaining social fabric, but it opens the door to international fragmentation. External powers, already present in Syria in various forms, are monitoring closely. Some may seek to intervene under the guise of humanitarian concern; others may exploit the chaos to carve out influence. Either path leads to the same end: the partition of Syria into sectarian or ethnic cantons, forever ending the dream of a unified state. Ahmed al-Sharaa still has a choice to make—though time is quickly running out. If he is truly seeking redemption from his militant past, if he truly believes in a future for Syria, then protecting the country's minorities must be his immediate priority. That means deploying state resources to guard vulnerable communities, prosecuting those responsible for sectarian violence, and publicly affirming the equal rights of all Syrians, regardless of sect or ethnicity. Symbolic gestures are not enough. The people need action. Security. Justice. The assurance that the new Syria will not be a replica of the old tyranny in a different costume. If Sharaa fails to rise to this moment, Syria's minorities will not wait to be slaughtered—they will flee, they will resist, and they may ultimately seek international protection. And when that happens, Syria may cease to exist as we know it. The survival of the state—and the credibility of its new leadership—hinges on whether Ahmed al-Sharaa is willing to break from the very ideology that once sought to destroy Syria's pluralism. If he cannot, or will not, then he will go down not as a liberator, but as a destroyer wearing a different banner.
Yemen Online
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemen's Houthis Launch Widespread Arrest Campaign in Ibb to Preempt Uprising
Ibb — In a sweeping crackdown aimed at suppressing growing unrest, Houthi forces have launched a broad campaign of arrests across Ibb Governorate, targeting educators, medical professionals, and civil society figures. The move comes amid rising tensions and fears of a popular uprising in the Sunni-majority province, long considered a flashpoint of resistance to Houthi rule. Local sources report that dozens of individuals have been detained in recent days, including prominent doctors such as Dr. Ahmed Yassin and Dr. Thaeer Al-Dueis, as well as academic leaders like Dr. Mohammed Qaed Aqlan, director of the Holy Quran House in Al-Yahari. The arrests follow the killing of Sheikh Saleh Hantous in neighboring Reimah Governorate, an incident that sparked widespread outrage. Human rights organizations have condemned the campaign, describing it as part of a broader pattern of repression in Houthi-controlled areas. Analysts say the arrests are intended to neutralize potential dissent and prevent the eruption of a coordinated uprising in Ibb, where tribal divisions and political grievances have simmered for years.
