Syria consul in Dubai 'defects' from Sharaa government over Suweida crisis

Syria's consul-general to the UAE has announced his "defection" over the transitional government's alleged complicity in sectarian clashes in Suweida in July, which left hundreds killed.

In a video statement that appeared on social media on Sunday, Ziad Zahreddine addressed the people of Suweida and said he "rejects his presence within this authority" and will "cease any work under its management". The date of the video's posting, however, is unclear.

"Our people of the great Jabal al-Bashan (Suweida), you were and still are a symbol of struggle and sacrifice. Suweida has been subjected to a barbaric crime, genocide, and ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by Hayaat Tahrir al-Sham represented by the Interim Government, in full coordination with the Islamic State group, through members recruited from Bedouin tribes," he alleged.

"This invasion was nothing short of a representation of their spiteful thinking that renews itself from time to time."

Zahreddine went on to claim that the events in Suweida, when hundreds of Druze civilians were believed to have been killed, occurred with the "full knowledge" of the leadership in Damascus. 

In his announcement, Zahreddine declared his support for what he called Suweida’s demands of "self-determination under the leadership of spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri", referring to the Druze sheikh who has been a key figure in the unrest.

He also called for an end of "the use of humanitarian aid as a political weapon", referring to an alleged government siege on the province, and the return of "those kidnapped".

During his address, Zahreddine had pictured on his desk Saleh Akwan, a 13-year-old Druze boy who was reportedly killed during the deadly events of July.

The consul is also a member of the Druze community of Suweida province, reportedly from the village of al-Sawra al-Kabira.

Jabal al-Bashan, the term Zahreddine used for Suweida, is the Hebrew Biblical name for the area that has been adopted by al-Hijri.

Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Zahreddine was transferred to the central administration in Damascus pursuant to Decision No. (209) issued on 20 September, and relieved of his duties at the consulate, according to Syria TV.

The ministry's consular department said in a statement on Sunday that Zahreddine’s words "did not represent the Syrian state or its official policies" but rather "expressed a personal opinion that contravenes diplomatic norms and the ethics of consular work".

It also stressed that the Syrian consulate in Dubai will carry on its work as normal, providing services to Syrians living in the Gulf state. 

In July, clashes erupted between Druze and Bedouin armed fighters and pro-government forces in Suweida and its surrounding villages – in another bout of sectarian violence to plague Syria, which is still going through a transitional period following the ouster of the Assad regime.

Hundreds of people were killed, while investigations by rights groups showed that some government forces and their affiliates actively took part in extrajudicial executions of dozens of Druze.

Amid the crisis, Israel went on to launch airstrikes targeting government forces and buildings. Damascus and several Syrians have accused Israel of stoking sectarian tensions to advance its expansionist aspirations in Syria, in a bid to create a "Greater Israel".

The tensions also prompted several Bedouin tribes to flee Suweida, over security and safety concerns following the killing of civilians by Druze militias.