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From Jaramana to Suwayda: Domestic and Regional Ramifications of Escalation Between the New Syrian Authority and the Druze

Key Takeaways The sectarian tension between the Druze and the Syrian interim authorities led by Ahmed al-Sharaa escalated into armed confrontations that lasted for days and took on regional dimensions, leading to mixed outcomes. Among the key developments: Sharaa has strengthened his hold over Damascus, secured the Damascus-Daraa road, enhanced security along the Damascus Airport Road and effectively confined the Druze issue to Suwayda governorate. Conversely, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has consolidated his position as the leading Druze figure in Syria and deepened his rapprochement and openness toward Israel. The Druze question in Syria will remain a key issue on both the local and international stages. Domestically, it represents a major test for Sharaa’s ability to incorporate rebellious areas under his authority. Internationally, Suwayda is likely to remain central to the evolving dynamics of Syrian-Israeli relations. Sectarian tensions between the Druze community and the Syrian interim authorities led by Ahmed al-Sharaa escalated into violent confrontations lasting several days and acquiring regional dimensions. These confrontations spread across Druze-populated areas – including Jaramana, Sahnaya, Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and Suwayda – and also affected Druze university students. Israel intervened to prevent Sharaa from implementing his plan to disarm Druze factions, while Turkiye aligned with Damascus and issued military threats against Israel. Background and Context trigger for the escalation was a video clip The Druze cleric denied the video’s authenticity, Read the whole article protests by supporters of the new Syrian authorities in several cities – including Homs, Hamah, Idlib, Damascus and Aleppo On April 28, 2025, a faction affiliated with the Ministry of Defense deployed in the town of al-Malihah near Jaramana launched an unprovoked attack on positions of the public security forces in the city. Druze leaders in Jaramana condemned the assault. Sharaa’s rule, blamed „takfiri, terrorist gangs“ for the violence, holding the authorities responsible for the attack.

The “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights” (SOHR) said that six individuals were executed on the outskirts of Sahnaya by “groups aligned with Defense Ministry forces.” These groups carried out extensive searches and arrested about 40 people. Violations also included personal insults to Druze fighters and their symbols after their arrest, such as forcibly shaving their moustaches. Israeli Intervention and Regional and International Reactions Implications of the Renewed Conflict with the Druze Conclusions The recent escalation between the new Syrian government and the Druze community has yielded mixed outcomes. Sharaa succeeded in consolidating his authority in the capital, securing control of the Damascus-Daraa highway (M5), tightening security around the Damascus-Airport road and geographically containing the Druze issue within Suwayda governorate. Meanwhile, al-Hijri emerged as the undisputed spiritual and political leader of the Druze in Syria, reinforcing his strategy of rapprochement with Israel. Moreover, the events demonstrated that Israeli declarations of support for Syria’s Druze community were not merely rhetorical, but reflected a serious and sustained commitment. In contrast, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia closely monitored the situation, ultimately playing key roles in de-escalating tensions and reinforcing Sharaa’s authority.   The confrontation revealed early signs of an emerging international contest over Syria’s future, particularly between Turkiye and Israel. Ankara expanded its military reach toward Damascus and its surrounding areas, seeking to position itself as the actor capable of managing the military tempo and restraining Israeli actions. Simultaneously, Riyadh moved swiftly to contain the crisis by backing Jumblatt’s mediation efforts. In contrast, Israel sought to derail these regional arrangements by leveraging the Druze card, aiming to undermine Sharaa and destabilize his rule – part of a broader Israeli strategy to ensure Syria remains weak, divided and unable to reassert itself regionally.   The Druze issue is likely to remain a pivotal matter both domestically and internationally. On the domestic front, it represents a critical test of Sharaa’s ability to reintegrate rebellious regions under central authority. With the dismantling of the Eighth Brigade in Daraa, extending the new regime’s influence into Suwayda becomes the next strategic objective. However, it remains uncertain whether Sharaa will opt for escalation – through security clampdowns, limited military operations or the use of local proxies such as Bedouin tribes in the east or certain Daraa-based factions in the west – or pursue a more calculated approach, seeking to contain local forces and gradually co-opt them through a strategy of incentives and pressure.   Internationally, Suwayda is likely to remain a focal point in the evolving balance of power between Tel Aviv and Damascus. Israel is unlikely to relinquish its support for the Druze – first, to maintain leverage over Sharaa during any future indirect negotiations; second, in response to domestic pressure from the influential Druze community within Israel; and third, because of Suwayda’s strategic location in southern Syria. Israel views this area as a critical buffer zone and is determined to prevent it from falling under the control of hostile or extremist forces that could threaten its security or regional interests.

US Empire Turns Syria Into Terrorist Hub

By Mark Taliano Global Research, June 11, 2025 Empire’s destruction of Syria serves to advance its imperial hegemony against additional prey countries using terrorist assets. Geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic recently noted, “As warned, the US is transforming Syria into a hub of terrorism to export violence across the Middle East (vs Iran and its allies), the rest of Eurasia (vs China & its Belt & Road projects), and beyond. US President Trump picks up where Obama-Biden left off, approving of plans to fold 1000s of extremists into Syria’s “army” under the nominal leadership of US proxy Al Jolani who heads the still-US-listed terrorist organization Al Nusra/HTS (Al Qaeda in Syria)… The open admission 1000s Uyghur extremists are fighting for Al Qaeda in Syria undermines US propaganda accusing China of “genocide” when in reality China was managing very real extremism and terrorism – US-approved extremism/terrorism.”(1) U.S Colonel Wilkinson, former Chief of Staff to former U.S Secretary of State Colin Powell, concurs with this assessment acknowledging that “the CIA would want to destabilize China, and that would be the best way to do it, to foment unrest and to join with those Uighurs in pushing the Han Chinese in Beijing from internal places rather than external.”(2) Empire’s strategic use of ISIS in Syria continues to serve Western-supported Zionist barbarism. A report by The Cradle indicates that Israel is cooperating with the ISIS-linked “Yasser Abu Shabab’ militia whose tasks include “preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and fighting Hamas”.(3) Read the whole article

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