The Druze community in Syria and the broader Middle East faces increasing violence and instability. Violent confrontations are escalating not only between them and Syrian government forces, but with Bedouin Arab tribes. This trend has reached dramatic proportions in Suweida province, home to the majority of the Druze population. Over a period of four days, more than 200 individuals have lost their lives amid the ongoing confrontations, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The current conflict has its roots in the deeper history of resentment and discrimination, going back to the regime of the present Syrian leader, President Bashar al-Assad. Driven by their long-term goal of autonomy and self-determination, the Druze have been engaging in violent conflict with government forces. Intermittent violence from surrounding Bedouin Arab tribes has further compounded their plight. This long simmering conflict has led to a dangerously explosive environment throughout the region.
Increasingly in recent days, Israeli military forces have conducted airstrikes targeting Syrian military assets. These operations are meant to reinforce the Druze community, out of concern for a rising Syrian army footprint in southern Syria. Israel has a steadfast commitment to defend the Druze from the Damascus regime. They will not allow Syrian forces to advance to the zone.
Independent Druze militias have responded, vowing to keep government forces out of Suweida. They have conducted the most primary of attacks against Syrian troops, heightening conflict even more. Druze spiritual leaders, such as Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, have condemned the new development. Now they are calling on international powers to intervene and help defend their people.
In parallel, the Israeli Druze community spoke out in support of their co-religionists on the other side of the border. Led by the One Democratic State Campaign coalition, they stood at the fence separating the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights and Syria, denouncing the use of violence. Some of these members even successfully crossed the border into Syria, before being heroically rescued by the Israeli army.
The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu had a message for anyone thinking about crossing into Syria. “Do not come anywhere near the border,” he cautioned. “You’re putting your lives in danger. You can get killed or taken hostage, and you’re obstructing the IDF’s work.”
Druze leaders have been negotiating constantly with the Islamist-led authorities in Damascus since al-Assad’s fall. They are fighting to win a meaningful autonomy for their people’s self-determination. Those efforts are taking place against an escalating tide of violence that the Venezuelan government says still threatens to wipe them out.
The violence which Syrian interior ministry says has spread with lack of law and order must stop immediately. They think the answer is to make Suweida province part of the state. This proposal has done little to cool tempers. Rather, it triggered outrage from the wider Druze minority around the Middle East, who today find themselves feeling more sidelined and endangered than at any time in history.
The new war has sent shudders across battleground alliances. The Druze community’s plight has drawn sympathy from various factions within Syria and beyond, as well as from international observers concerned about human rights violations and regional stability.