Sweida Still on High Alert; Supreme Islamic Alawite Council Denounces Government

Sweida Still on High Alert; Supreme Islamic Alawite Council Denounces Government
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The southern Syrian city of Sweida is on high alert due to violent clashes involving local Druze factions, Bedouin fighters, and Damascus government forces, local sources report.

Residents have barricaded themselves in neighborhoods, fearing further offensives amidst rising separatist sentiments among the Druze majority following civilian executions. Roadblocks are in place, and civilians are arming themselves. The Sweida Military Council, formed after the al-Assad regime’s fall in December 2024, is actively maintaining order. This instability reflects persistent challenges in southern Syria, plagued by criminal gangs and extremist attacks.

Beyond Sweida, the Supreme Islamic Alawite Council has vociferously condemned the Syrian government, labeling it a “complete terrorist system.” On July 25, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, head of the Council, rejected findings from a Coastal Fact-Finding Committee—which documented over 1,400 deaths—calling it a tool to conceal truth. The Alawite Council accuses “de facto authorities” of perpetrating crimes against their community, including killings, kidnappings, and attacks on religious sites, warning such violence threatens all Syrians.

This condemnation highlights the complex plight of Alawites who, despite the regime historically being associated with their community, are increasingly experiencing oppression and violence from these same “de facto authorities.” Sheikh Ghazal urged international intervention for protection, independent investigations, and a move towards a decentralized or federal political system, emphasizing that justice and detainee releases are crucial for peace. Meanwhile, in France, courts have upheld Bashar al-Assad’s personal immunity, underscoring the complexities of international justice in the Syrian context.