Al-Sharaa Declares Protection of the Druze Community Amid Rising Tensions
Transitional President Defends National Unity, Accuses Israel of Destabilization, While Druze Leaders Remain Divided Over Ceasefire
Syria, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa affirmed on Wednesday that Syria remains unified in the face of repeated attempts to divide the nation, declaring that the country "will not become an arena for foreign conspiracies or ambitions."
In a televised address during ongoing unrest in the Sweida governorate, al-Sharaa emphasized the historical resistance of the Syrian people to division.
“Syrians, with their long history, have always rejected all forms of division,” he said, adding that the people are “the children of this land and the most capable of overcoming Israeli attempts to fragment us.”
Al-Sharaa called for collective national efforts to rebuild Syria and prioritize unity. “Building a new Syria requires us to stand firmly by our homeland,” he said.
Druze Community Deemed a Pillar of the Nation
President al-Sharaa expressed deep appreciation for the role of Syria’s Druze community, calling them “an essential part of the national fabric,” and emphasized that their safety and stability were a top priority.
In light of the deadly clashes that erupted in Sweida earlier this week, he announced that some local factions and religious figures from the Druze community would be entrusted with restoring order. He framed this decision as a choice made to protect national interests and avoid full-scale war with Israel.
“We were faced with the choice of war with Israel or allowing Druze elders to broker an agreement—and we chose to protect the homeland,” he stated.
He accused Israel of trying to exploit instability in Syria, particularly since the fall of the previous regime, with the aim of tearing apart Syrian society. “There is no place for others’ ambitions on our land. We will restore Syria’s dignity and must put national interest above all else.”
Contradictions in Policy: Secret Meetings with Israeli Officials Revealed
Despite al-Sharaa’s defiant rhetoric, reports have confirmed that his transitional government has met with Israeli officials on multiple occasions. These meetings were allegedly aimed at partitioning the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and establishing mechanisms to guarantee Israeli security—with American and Azerbaijani backing.
While al-Sharaa claimed that the Syrian state had intervened to halt internal violence in Sweida and restore security, observers note that these efforts have been undermined by both foreign interference and domestic mistrust.
He acknowledged that international mediation—particularly by the U.S., Arab countries, and Turkey—played a role in preventing further bloodshed. “We chose the interest of the people over chaos, and our best option was to protect the unity of the homeland,” al-Sharaa said.
However, on-the-ground documentation and testimonies from Sweida suggest that government-affiliated forces committed multiple atrocities against civilians during recent operations in the region.
Israeli Strikes Escalate: Military Headquarters Targeted
Earlier in the day, Israeli occupation forces escalated their campaign by launching missile strikes on the General Staff Headquarters in Damascus and reportedly targeting the Tishreen Presidential Palace.
The attacks represented a significant provocation and an escalation in the targeting of Syrian state institutions and military infrastructure. While Syrian state media reported damage to facilities, no official casualty count has been issued.
These strikes are part of a broader pattern of intensified Israeli aggression across southern Syria in recent days.
Ceasefire Declared in Sweida, but Druze Leadership Remains Deeply Divided
Later on Wednesday, Syrian Arab Army units began withdrawing from the southern city of Sweida following an agreement reached between the Syrian government and senior Druze religious leaders. The deal, confirmed by the Interior Ministry and state-run news agency SANA, marks the beginning of a ceasefire after days of armed conflict.
The Druze Muslim Community Headquarters in Syria also issued a statement confirming that all parties had committed to halting military operations and pledged support for the ceasefire.
However, the truce exposed a significant divide among Druze leadership. While Sheikh Youssef al-Jarbou supported the agreement, other prominent figures—including Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri—rejected it entirely.
Sheikh al-Hijri declared that fighting must continue until Sweida is fully liberated from government control and denounced negotiations with what he referred to as "armed gangs pretending to be a government."
He emphasized: “The continuation of defense and fighting is a national, humanitarian, and moral duty that cannot be compromised.” Al-Hijri further stated that any engagement with such factions contradicts the unified stance of the Druze spiritual leadership. (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen