Druze in Sweida Push Toward Autonomy After Sectarian Violence and Israeli Intervention

The Syrian Druze community in Sweida is moving toward greater autonomy following deadly clashes with government forces and shifting regional dynamics, marking a major setback for Damascus.

Over the summer, Syrian government troops entered Sweida in an attempt to reassert control over the Druze-majority enclave that had long functioned semi-independently. Instead, the intervention sparked sectarian violence, particularly between Druze groups and local Bedouin clans, leaving hundreds of Druze civilians dead. Videos circulated online showed government-linked fighters humiliating and executing Druze civilians, deepening mistrust toward Damascus.

In response, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri emerged as the dominant figure, establishing the Supreme Legal Council and organizing dozens of militias under the National Guard. While the body claims to defend Druze interests, critics accuse it of including former Assad loyalists and Captagon traffickers. Calls for autonomy — and even secession — have since grown louder.

The crisis has driven many Druze closer to Israel, a once-taboo ally. Israel’s Druze leader Sheikh Mowafak Tarif publicly coordinated with Al-Hijri, delivering aid and calling for international protection. Israel also carried out strikes on Syrian government targets in Sweida and Damascus, forcing government forces to withdraw. Symbols of this shift are now visible in Sweida’s Karama Square, where Druze flags are flown alongside Israeli ones.

The interim Syrian government, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa — a former militant who replaced Bashar al-Assad after his fall in December — has struggled to regain Druze trust. While Damascus recently announced reconciliation plans with U.S. and Jordanian backing, many Druze view them as empty gestures.

Analysts say the events in Sweida mark a historic rupture in Druze identity, long tied to Syrian nationalism. “The Druze realized that remaining part of the new political system under Damascus will be extremely difficult,” said Mazen Ezzi, a Syrian researcher.

For residents like Omar Alkontar, a 21-year-old student who lost his village in the clashes, separation is now seen as the only path to survival. “As long as this government stays, people will lean toward partition or independence,” he said.