Syria Druze leader rejects Damascus talks, praises Israel

Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria’s Suweida province, has ruled out negotiations with the government in Damascus, saying the recent violence in the region requires international investigation and sweeping political change.

In an interview with Saudi-funded Al Arabiya on Wednesday, al-Hijri said: "I feel a deep wound over the failure to condemn what happened in Suweida," adding: "I thanked Israel because it defended us and provided us with protection."

He said violations against the Druze community had forced them to seek allies wherever possible, declaring: "There can be no reconciliation with blood."

Al-Hijri called for a new Syrian constitution and a government that protects all Syrians, insisting that the state had "destroyed all bridges of trust in recent events". He stressed that the Druze community "never sought division" but that it had been imposed on them, accusing Damascus of running a smear campaign to "demonise our position".

His remarks follow weeks of fragile calm in Suweida after intense fighting broke out on 13 July between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes.

The violence lasted a week, prompting the intervention of government security forces. According to United Nations estimates, some 200,000 people were displaced during the clashes, which left hundreds dead. A ceasefire has been in place since 19 July, though only a partial return of displaced civilians has occurred.

Al-Hijri’s comments underline his shift from cautious distance to open opposition against the Syrian government.

On Wednesday, Druze militias loyal to him rejected a joint security plan for Suweida proposed by Syria, Jordan, and the United States. A committee close to al-Hijri said the plan amounted to a new form of "guardianship" by Damascus, arguing that any investigation overseen under Syrian law would mean "the accused becomes the judge".

The Druze leader has repeatedly linked outside support to the survival of his community. In recent weeks, he has thanked the US, Israel, and European governments while highlighting ties to the Druze community in Israel.

On 25 August, Al Arabiya reported that he had demanded a semi-autonomous region in southern Syria, citing the government’s failure to protect Suweida.

Al-Hijri’s praise for Israel marks a striking departure from official Syrian rhetoric and has led to conjecture that he is conspiring with Tel Aviv to split Syria.

Damascus has long accused Israel of backing unrest in the south, with Israel openly stating it wants to see Syria split along ethnic and sectarian lines. The government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has positioned itself as the defender of Syria’s sovereignty.

The Syrian government has not responded directly to al-Hijri’s latest remarks. State media has framed the Suweida clashes as criminal unrest stoked by rogue elements and foreign powers.

For now, Suweida remains under a tense truce.

Al-Hijri insists that only international guarantees and a new political order can resolve the crisis. "No negotiation or agreement with Damascus," he said.

"We need radical change."