Khaberni - "Syria is heading towards division and building independent regions; this is the only path to ensure the future of minorities and the stability of the Middle East, and Israel is the sole qualified and guarantor party for any future arrangements in the region.".
This was stated by Hikmat Al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Sweida, in an interview with the Israeli website "Ynet," affiliated with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, about the political situation in Sweida and its relationship with Israel.
The Syrian Government "Daesh-like"
Al-Hijri claimed that the conflict of the Druze community today is no longer just a political disagreement with the authority but an existential battle against a "barbaric" approach targeting minorities. He described the July clashes between Druze militants and others from Bedouin tribes as a "genocide war" that only Israel saved the Druze from.
He said that the Syrian government is led by a mentality no different from the Islamic State organization (ISIS) or Al-Qaeda, accusing the government of adopting what he described as a "Daesh-like ideology," and claimed - without evidence - that the Druze suffered field executions, rape, and the burning of residential areas in July.
He also claimed that the alleged acts of violence came "by decision from the regime in Damascus" and "coordination" with armed groups, considering what happened as a complete genocide, according to his description.
It's worth noting that the fighting in July later evolved into open confrontations between the Druze and Syrian army and security forces that were trying to maintain security in the area.
The Israeli occupation then carried out military strikes targeting Syrian army sites in the city of Sweida in support of the local Druze factions, and the extent of the bombing included the command headquarters of the General Staff in the capital Damascus.
The militants loyal to Al-Hijri also breached the agreement that led to the withdrawal of security and army forces from Sweida in July, by attacking areas of the Bedouin tribes, imposing a siege on them, and carrying out field executions and murders, as reported by Mufleh Sabra, the leader of the tribal assembly in southern Syria.
The Arabs Failed the Druze
Al-Hijri did not hesitate to praise the Israeli role, saying: "It's no secret that Israel was the only country in the world that intervened militarily and saved us from genocide through air strikes that stopped the massacre at its peak."
He added that the relationship with Israel is "normal" and based on blood ties and extended families, considering Israel a "rule of law and international institutions state," which is the model that the Druze aspire to achieve.
Conversely, Al-Hijri expressed deep disappointment with the Arab world, accusing Arab countries of siding with "the killer against the victim," criticizing the Arab press, which he described as "portraying us as sons of the devil."
The Solution.. Dividing Syria
Al-Hijri sees the only remaining solution for the Druze as "complete independence." He claimed that attempts to build a civil state ended after the collapse of agreements in March 2025, emphasizing that "the ruling ideology in Damascus is the al-Qaeda ideology, and it's impossible for the Druze to live under its shadow."
Al-Hijri revealed the establishment of "The National Guard," which serves as a local Druze army to protect the governorate, confirming ongoing strategic coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria.
He concluded that the Druze can no longer bear the suffering they are currently experiencing, and that Israel must intervene, affirming that "the Druze see themselves as an integral part of the existential system represented by Israel."
