UN and Druze Spiritual Leader Warn on Syria’s Future Amid Insecurity Crisis
Two separate reports on the situation in Syria highlight the fragility of the country’s reconstruction efforts and a deep-seated lack of trust between the government and key communities. The situation is compounded by security threats from insurgents, including ISIS.
According to the Shia Waves Agency, citing Al Jazeera, senior United Nations officials warned the Security Council that Syria’s initial steps toward reconstruction could quickly collapse. Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, stated that the transitional authorities in Damascus have inherited “buildings in ruins and a deeper disorder in the social fabric, worn-out institutions, and a collapsed economy.” Pedersen, who announced his resignation, added that for reconstruction to succeed, the international community must stand against foreign interference and Damascus must truly become a government for all its citizens.
In a related development, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, stated that his group will not negotiate with the provisional government in Damascus. According to a report by the Shia Waves Agency, which cited Al-Arabiya, Al-Hajri said the crisis in the province of Suwayda can only be resolved through fundamental changes. He added that recent bloody events require an international investigation and that the government’s actions have destroyed all bridges of trust.
Al-Hajri called for a new constitution and the formation of a government that represents all Syrians. While emphasizing that the Druze have never sought separatism, he stated that they have been forced to form alliances for survival due to pressure.
This comes amid a report by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that an attack by an Islamic State (ISIS) cell in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor resulted in one death and two injuries.
According to Rudaw, the assailants launched their attack using motorcycles and automatic weapons. After a brief engagement, SDF forces repelled the attackers, forcing them to retreat.
On the other side of the globe, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani raised the country’s flag over the Syrian embassy in Washington, D.C.
According to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), al-Shaybani described the moment as historic. He paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives and honored the families of the missing and injured, emphasizing Syria’s return to its proper standing.
