The spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, declared that the Druze in Suwayda are moving forward with the creation of a separate self-administration, fully independent from the government in Damascus.
In a televised speech, al-Hijri said that “separation from Damascus is not up for negotiation” and thanked Israel for its support for the Druze cause.
He said the Druze demands “are not negotiable” and that the path toward self-determination is continuing “with steady steps.” According to him, the move is being made away from the control of groups with whom reality has proven “it is no longer possible to live alongside.”
The statement is highly significant because it openly challenges the authority of Syria’s central government and signals that the Druze leadership in southern Syria no longer sees Damascus as a legitimate protector or partner.