Demonstrators in Sweida openly reject jihadist rule and appeal to Israel for support.
A public protest took place this afternoon in Al-Karama Square in the city of Sweida, southern Syria, with demonstrators calling for self-determination and the establishment of an independent Druze state — referred to by participants as the “State of the Bashan.”
The protest explicitly rejected continued rule under jihadist Syria led by Ahmed al‑Sharaa (formerly known as al-Jolani). Demonstrators demanded separation from Damascus and an end to Islamist dominance over Druze areas.
During the rally, protesters carried signs bearing the image of Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, waved Israeli flags, and chanted slogans openly calling for Israeli assistance. Some speakers went further, expressing a desire for Israeli protection or sponsorship as a guarantor of Druze security and autonomy.