Suweida militia leader admits coordination with US, Israel after deadly clashes

The leader of Suweida's Military Operations Room in southern Syria has admitted to direct coordination with the United States and Israel to secure international protection and push for a UN-led investigation into last month’s deadly sectarian clashes, while rejecting any role for a Syrian government inquiry.

The Druze-majority province saw intense fighting between local Druze factions, Bedouin tribal militias, and Syrian government forces, leaving at least 814 people dead and more than 903 injured between 13 and 20 July, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Civilians, including women, children, and medical workers, were among the dead.

The clashes also killed fighters from both Druze and Bedouin armed groups, as well as members of the Syrian Internal Security Forces and the Defence Ministry of the country’s transitional government.

The week of violence, which erupted after the collapse of a fragile power balance in the south, included summary executions, the desecration of religious sites, and the kidnapping of civilians. It displaced around 176,000 people, according to UN data.

Fighting also reached central Damascus, where Israeli airstrikes hit government and military targets including the defence ministry, the presidential palace perimeter, and the national library.

Israel said it was acting to protect Syria’s Druze community, a claim rejected by many Syrians, including Druze leaders, who condemned Tel Aviv’s involvement.

Tariq al-Maghoush, a commander in the Military Operations Room who says he was a close associate of Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, told Asharq al-Awsat the body was seeking "international protection" and had "a good relationship with Israel, an important player in the region", which "played an effective role in repelling attacks on Suweida".

He added: "We are asking for its protection."

Maghoush said the group would not allow the Syrian government's investigation committee to enter the province, calling it "illegitimate", and claimed there was broad popular rejection of its work.

"We will prevent it politely by informing them they are banned from working in Suweida and must return to where they came from," he said.

Al-Maghoush described the Military Operations Room , formed in December 2024 under the blessing of Sheikh al-Hijri, as having led the "battle to topple Bashar al-Assad" in the province and liberate it during what he called the "decisive battle" which began in Aleppo and ended in Damascus.

Syria's Ministry of Justice announced on 31 July that it had formed a committee to "uncover the circumstances and conditions that led to the events" in Suweida and to "investigate the attacks and violations against citizens" and prosecute those responsible.

But protests erupted the next day in Suweida, with demonstrators rejecting the government panel and demanding an independent international investigation.

Some waved Israeli flags, an act denounced as a "crime" by Judge Hatem al-Naasan, the head of the Syrian committee. He insisted the panel was open to dialogue with the people of Suweida but stressed that "as long as the state is able to investigate, there can be no international committee".

The clashes have deepened an institutional vacuum in Suweida, where a temporary executive office now oversees basic services and the Internal Security Service has been given new leadership.

In July, Sheikh al-Hijri established a "Supreme Legal Committee" composed of six judges, four advisers, and three lawyers to manage sectors including social affairs, education, transport, communications, the economy, water, and health.

Although not recognised by Damascus, the committee operates as the de facto authority in the province, with support from local religious leaders, and says it is open to receiving donations to meet humanitarian needs.