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For the first time, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in the governorate of al-Suwayda Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has openly demanded independence from Syria citing fear from the country’s new Islamist-led government.
In July, a government-led attack on al-Suwayda claimed the lives of 1,990 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Mass violations were reported during the attack. In fact, the death toll includes at least 765 Druze civilians who were executed by government troops and affiliated Beidouin fighters. In addition, at least 235 Druze women who were abducted during the attack are still missing.
Israel intervened in support of the Druze during the government-led attack, citing its historic relations with its own Druze community.
The intervention, which saw Israeli strikes hitting Damascus, allowed Druze factions to hold onto the city of al-Suwayda and much of the governorate’s eastern and southern countryside. The rest remains occupied by government forces, who are also imposing a siege on al-Suwayda.
In a video that surfaced online on August 30, Hijri states: “We are searching for what suits us as a society, so we can say this is what suits us. Today, with the youth gatherings and widespread mobilization taking place in the squares, and with the magnitude of the sacrifices made by our sons, we no longer have room to negotiate anything but independence… Independence is no longer an option up for discussion; it has become an absolute necessity.”
“The Druze community in Syria is demanding the independence of the southern region,” he added, noting that the goal of this is “to preserve safety and dignity,” and that the future entity “must be in harmony with major powers and open and civilized societies.”
Hajri went on to emphasize that he holds no animosity or vengeful tendencies toward any side, emphasizing that the declared demand is a “public opinion” that reflects the thinking of al-Suwayda youth.
“Every word I convey comes from young people who aspire to a better future. We are not advocates of revenge or conflicts of a religious or extremist nature. Rather, we aspire to partnerships with countries around the world, whether Arab or non-Arab,” the leader said.
Addressing the National Guard recently formed in al-Suwayda, Hajri described the formation as “the Druze unification military arm.” He also noted the presence of a “political and legal arm” represented by the governorate’s Legal Committee, emphasizing that these structures were prepared to address various future scenarios.
He concluded by emphasizing that the community is “committed to the agreements” and is not seeking temporary solutions, stressing again that its primary demand is “independence.”
Just two days earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that his country will continue to support Druze in Syria, despite engaging in advanced talks with the country’s government on a security agreement.
“I understand who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with, and that is why we used force,” he says during a visit to the Druze town of Julis in northern Israel. “I told President Trump: we both believe in the same idea — it’s called peace through strength. First comes strength — then comes peace. That’s how it is, certainly in our region, but not only here. But first and foremost, in our region.”
The Syrian government, meanwhile, maintains the stance that al-Suwayda is controlled by “criminal gangs.” Promises to investigate the violations that took place during the attack on the government and hold those responsible accountable have so far led to nothing.
It is highly unlikely that the government will launch another attack in al-Suwayda as Druze seem determined to fight and Israel appears to be committed to protecting them. At the time, government forces will not likely withdraw from the governorate any time soon.
There is no denying that al-Suwayda has begun the process of separation from Syria. This process will, without a doubt, take time. However, as long as the current government is in place in its current Islamist form, the process will likely succeed.
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a slave of wahhabism or a slave of zionism, two very bad choices
google pays $300 on a regular basis. my latest salary check was $8600 for working 10 hours a week on the internet. my younger sibling has been averaging $19k for the
last few months… http://www.cartblinks.com
the idf enlists druze into its ranks, but hts only kills them and kidnaps their women. just look at how the alawites ended up when they laid down their weapons. the only chance for the druze to survive is for them to be annexed by israel.
aoun, berri and that traitor geagea…take note. this is you soon if you are completely stupid enough to demand hezbollah turn in their weapons…which, thank god, they won’t and the people won’t let them try to make them. lebanon is treading water right now, but that is far better than the alternative…swimming upstream in a river of crocodiles, trusting them to not eat them. this what the entity and the u.s. are wanting, national suicide.
when the murdering thief comes in darkness to destroy you and all that you love. even a few guns are little to defend against this multitude of well supplied sworn to evil entity. free palestine
are you dying?
that’s some funny shit dude hahahaha
with no airforce and with no airdefence too speak off .because of greed, frugality and politics, how do you defend yourself ?
he is right. alawites lacked a man like this
this is all from page 1 in the zio neocon playbook. engineer & orchestrate massacres & mayhem, then offer people “protection” in a patchwork quilt of mini fiefdoms serving the interests of joo gangster puppet masters. a carbon copy of iraq, libya, and soon lebanon. if the jooz succeed they will turn their attention from iran to pakistan & turkey as well & try to repeat the process there. it is a recipe for perpetual war, & barbaric sectarian violence, a hobbesian descent
into the abyss. there will be no peace or any semblance of civilised existence in the world until the jooz are brought under control and zog rule in the jewsa/ jewu/ jewk is broken. what is particularly nauseating is the architects of genocide and mayhem feigning concern for the despised goyim and posing as protectors of their many victims. zionism can only be built on a mountain of corpses. it’s as basic as that.
the zionist cult has chosen abyss by the practice of sorcery. to them conquest of and forced fall heaven seems the mission. not that they would care
according to al jizzira another child is dead in gayza.
i guess the abyss was for you guys.
enjoy!
you and your abyss… get a room will ye?
the divide and conquer strategy openly reveals itself again disguised in the fog of greater israels conquest of the earth.and heaven. a black hole. they hate their maker with complete defiance disrespect
yes, idf only has to copy what you satanist communists are doing.
remember the jews are chosen people.
they were chosen to defeat the evil islamistic fanatics (nazi communists from the stone age).
sending you back to your mommy’s black hole!
when i was 9 yrs old many hillbillies used my anuz i demanded independence from my mulatto pimp