Pro-Hizbullah Daily: Southern Syrian Tribes Seeking Weapons, Training From Parties In Turkey To Confront Israel, Syrian Government

Memri

27-05-2025

On May 24, 2025, the pro-Hizbullah Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar published an article which quoted "field sources" in southern Syria's Daraa governorate, who claimed that "security tensions" have increased in the area due to the incursions of Israeli forces and fears of a resurgence of Islamic State (ISIS) cells, which were previously active in the area under the name Jaysh Khalid bin Al-Walid (JKBW).[1] Daraa's "complicated tribal nature," according to Al-Akhbar, had enabled ISIS to establish a presence among some tribes, who often possess personal weapons.[2]
In addition, Al-Akhbar noted growing discontent with interim Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Daraa due to his April dissolution of the Eighth Brigade headed by Ahmad Al-Awda, who still enjoys "popularity" in southern Syria, as well as the government's lack of a "firm stance" regarding "repeated Israeli incursions."
Al-Sharaa's recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Riyadh, which raised speculations that Syria may join the Abraham Accords, and the Syrian leader's remarks about "peace," were met with "widespread rejection" in southern Syria, according to the pro-Hizbullah daily. Al-Akhbar claimed that many locals feel that Al-Sharaa has "abandoned them religiously and ideologically" by adopting "pragmatic" rhetoric that distances Syria from the "principles of the Arab-Israeli conflict."
Al-Akhbar's sources reported that some "opposition factions" are acting to hold secret meetings in Turkey, seeking to obtain weapons and training from "stakeholders in the Syrian issue," in preparation for future confrontation with the Syrian government if it "continues its steps toward normalization" with Israel, or to take independent action against Israeli forces if government inaction persists. While locals appreciate Al-Sharaa's efforts to preserve Syria's unity and pursue "security cells," they reject any ties to Israel, and "tribal voices" have compared Al-Sharaa negatively with Assad, insisting that "the former regime, despite its drawbacks, would never remain silent to the Israeli incursions."
The Lebanese daily warned that "various approaches" are needed to guarantee southern Syria's stability, so that the area does not "slide … into chaos" again.
The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance Front in Syria – Formidable in Might militia is active in southern Syria and has claimed small-scale operations against Israeli forces in the area.[3]
Israeli actions in Syria have been met with anger among Syrian jihadis, who have called for armed jihad against Israel.[4]