US envoy Barrack condemns violence in Syria's Suweida after militias torture, expel Hijri critic

US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack has condemned renewed violence in Syria's Suweida province after armed groups detained, allegedly tortured and forcibly expelled a prominent local figure who had criticised Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri.

Atef Huneidi, a notable from the village of al-Majdal in western Suweida, arrived in Damascus on Friday after being forced to leave the province following his detention by groups affiliated with Hijri's "National Guard" militia.

Huneidi had issued a statement criticising recent remarks by al-Hijri saying that Suweida was "an integral part of Israel".

The National Guard militia was established last year and brings together armed factions aligned with al-Hijri. After deadly sectarian violence broke out in Suweida last year, they have controlled most of the province and have called for it to be separated from Syria, while expressing sympathy for Israel.

National Guard-affiliated fighters raided Huneidi's home in al-Majdal and detained him, while several relatives and neighbours who attempted to prevent his arrest were beaten, according to sources who spoke to The New Arab.

Suweida's media directorate, which is affiliated to the Syrian government, said Huneidi was asked while in detention to issue a statement retracting his criticism of al-Hijri.

It said Huneidi refused despite being subjected to torture and was subsequently forced to leave the province for Damascus, where he was taken to a secure location.

Huneidi's family condemned the raid and his expulsion, describing it as "a dangerous and reprehensible precedent" that it could not accept "whether against Atef Huneidi or anyone else".

Suweida's Governor Mustafa al-Bakour, who was appointed by Syria's authorities, also condemned the incident on Saturday, saying the storming of Huneidi's home, his detention and his expulsion by what he called "groups outside the law" could not be treated as a normal occurrence.

The controversy prompted an intervention from Barrack on Saturday, who said Washington was "dismayed by the renewed escalation in Suweida".

Barrack said that "gangs" were filling a vacuum created by the absence of state governance in the province and called for Suweida to be reintegrated into Syria under a roadmap agreed by the United States, Jordan and Syria last year.

"Our team is in contact with Mr Huneidi and with others who have fallen victim to this campaign of violence within the community," Barrack said.

He called on all sides to exercise restraint and said the only route to restoring security and creating conditions for displaced people to return was through accountability for those responsible for crimes.

The US, Jordan and Syria agreed a roadmap for resolving the Suweida crisis in September 2025 following talks in Amman.

The plan affirmed Syria's territorial unity while providing for local administration and security arrangements in Suweida, humanitarian access, the release of abductees and return of displaced people, an investigation into violence in the province and an end to foreign interference alongside regional security arrangements.

The latest tensions have exposed deepening divisions within Suweida over al-Hijri's political direction and the province's future relationship with Damascus.

Huneidi had publicly rejected al-Hijri's recent statements concerning Israel and criticised what he viewed as attempts to speak on behalf of the entire Druze community and determine its political future.

Journalist Samer al-Miqdad told The New Arab that armed groups affiliated with al-Hijri had recently adopted an increasingly confrontational approach amid growing Israeli incursions in southern Syria.

"Al-Hijri constantly talks about the scenario of separation, which drives the groups affiliated with him to suppress his opponents inside the province and escalate against Syrian security checkpoints, in parallel with Israeli incursions," al-Miqdad said.

He said the treatment of Huneidi suggested an increasingly hardline approach towards voices opposed to al-Hijri.

"There are high levels of fear among civilians over the militia's dominance, and this is exacerbating the situation," al-Miqdad added.

The episode comes amid continued uncertainty over Suweida's political and security status following deadly violence in the province last year and continuing conflict between local armed factions and the Syrian government.

Barrack urged communities in Suweida to pursue dialogue and warned against another outbreak of violence, saying that alternatives to the agreed roadmap would lead "nowhere except back to sorrow".