Between Blockade and Independence: Druze community in Suwayda, Syria, threatens secession

SUWAYDA, Syria — Tensions are rising in Suwayda, southern Syria, with signs of a potential confrontation looming. Local religious leaders have warned that hostilities could resume in the coming days amid the ongoing siege on the province and growing public demands for independence.

In an interview with Rudaw TV, Sheikh Fadi Badrieh confirmed that the people of Jabal al-Arab, under the guidance of the Druze community’s spiritual authority, are now openly calling for secession from what he described as the “corrupt regime” in Daramsuq (Damascus).

He emphasized that Suwayda has enough “prominent figures” to oversee a new political and economic chapter. Badrieh also stated that the move to establish a separate region has the backing of unspecified “states,” while underscoring calls for the creation of a “humanitarian corridor” connecting the Golan Heights and Suwayda.

According to Sheikh Fadi Badrieh, the events of last July left more than 2,000 Druze dead and caused thousands of injuries. He reported that roughly 70,000 fighters targeted areas in Suwayda, with local monitoring indicating that around 17,696 of them were killed.
Badrieh described the attacks as a “systematic genocide,” citing the killing of children and the elderly, the abduction of women, and the looting and burning of dozens of villages.

Despite these challenges, Badrieh stressed that, “Jabal al-Arab is capable of defending itself.” He confirmed that the newly formed “National Guard” brings together multiple factions under a unified leadership.

In a concrete move, dozens of local factions in Suwayda — including the Sheikh al-Karama Forces, Saraya al-Jabal, and Sons of al-Jabal Gathering — have joined the National Guard, creating a unified military formation of thousands of fighters.

The Suwayda Military Council welcomed the move, describing it as a reflection of “the popular will to defend the land and dignity.” It affirmed that the struggle for Jabal al-Arab represents a “battle for existence and destiny.”

Meanwhile, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze in Israel, is actively engaging the international community over the situation in Suwayda. He received a delegation from the British Parliament and met with the Russian Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Anatoly Viktorov, and the German Ambassador, pressing for an internationally supervised humanitarian corridor, the release of abductees, compensation for affected residents, and an international investigation into what he described as “genocide crimes.”

The recent developments mark a significant shift in the Druze community’s traditional stance, which for years avoided involvement in the Syrian conflict. Amid escalating attacks and an intensifying siege, calls for secession are growing louder, while the international community watches cautiously.

As Jabal al-Arab faces what its leaders describe as a “battle for existence,” critical questions remain unanswered: Is the current crisis paving the way for an independent local entity with external backing, or will pressure from the Syrian government and its allies force the region back under central control?

What is clear is that Suwayda, with its historical and symbolic significance, now stands at a crossroads — between remaining part of a fragmented Syria or pursuing a precarious path toward independence.