Latest news with #MountainBrigade
Times
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
Who are the Druze and why is Israel attacking Syria?
Syria's government has withdrawn its forces from the southern Druze city of Sweida after an Israeli military intervention that targeted troops and their headquarters in Damascus. The fighting killed dozens and set back efforts to unify the country after 13 years of civil war. The Druze follow a syncretic faith that is an offshoot of Islam. They are minorities in Syria, where there are 700,000, Israel, where there are about 150,000, and Lebanon. In Israel, they are seen as a powerful minority that holds senior positions in the military. In Syria, many of the Druze live in Sweida, which had balked at joining the new government. They have a number of powerful defence militias, including the Mountain Brigade, and several competing commanders. A prominent one is the religious chief Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has opposed coming under the rule of Damascus. Druze in Syria and Lebanon have been careful not to align themselves with Israel, which is hugely unpopular in both countries. However, the Syrian branch has been in touch with their brethren in Israel and some view Israel as their best protector against Damascus. Israel had warned the government against sending troops to the south, saying it wanted to protect the Druze. The intervention came after Syrian soldiers entered Sweida to end fighting between the Druze and local Bedouin, which quickly turned into sectarian clashes between Sunni government soldiers and Druze militia in which about 200 people have died, according to a Syrian war monitor. Israel had also sought to carve out a demilitarised buffer zone in southern Syria along its borders. • Syria vows to hunt 'outlaws' after Israel strikes Damascus Israeli leaders have called President Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander, an unreformed jihadist. Some ministers have even called for his assassination. Sharaa, for his part, has held talks with Israel to de-escalate the tensions, while suggesting he might be open to negotiating a broader agreement. Sharaa received a boost in May when he met President Trump, who praised the leader and lifted sanctions on the country. Sharaa was forced to withdraw his troops after the Israeli airstrikes and US mediation. By doing so, he conceded Sweida for now as a de facto Israeli protectorate, with no armed presence of his government. The affair has set back his efforts to unify the fragmented country after he led rebels into overthrowing the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. Other holdouts, such as the independent Kurds in east Syria, are even less likely now to join his government.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
What Is Happening In Syria's Druze-Majority Sweida?
Damascus: The Syrian government deployed its forces in the Druze-majority city of Sweida, in a bid by the Islamist authorities to extend their power to the area controlled by local armed groups. Why did authorities take this major step, and what could follow? How Did It Begin? Clashes began on Sunday between factions from the Druze religious minority and Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni Muslim, killing more than 100 people. The two sides have a longstanding feud in Sweida. Syrian government forces sent reinforcements to the region, in the country's south, saying they want to reestablish security. But according to witnesses, Druze armed groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, government forces and allied groups including Bedouins took control on Monday of several villages near Sweida that were previously run by Druze fighters. On Tuesday, following contacts between Damascus authorities and notables from Sweida, the Syrian defence ministry announced a ceasefire after government forces had entered the city. Before then, Sweida, home to around 150,000 people, was controlled by various Druze factions. Syria's three main Druze spiritual leaders, who sometimes hold differing views on political issues, called on local fighters on Tuesday to lay down their arms. However, Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the leaders, then accused Damascus of failing to uphold its commitment to enter Sweida peacefully and called for "resisting this brutal campaign by all available means". Terrified residents of Sweida have reported numerous abuses since the entry of government troops and their allies, including executions, looting and burning houses. What Future Awaits The Druze Factions? The new Islamist authorities, who seized power after overthrowing longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, had demanded the dissolution of all armed groups and their integration into the forces of the defence ministry. During Syria's 14-year civil war, which started after Assad's violent repression of peaceful protests in 2011, the Druze formed their own armed groups to protect their heartland in Sweida away from major battles. In January, the two largest groups, the Men of Dignity movement and the Mountain Brigade, said they were ready to join the new national army. "The state has been stalling the implementation of this agreement," Men of Dignity spokesperson Bassem Fakhr told AFP. Aside from the Druze, the Kurds, who control vast territories in the country's northeast, have a powerful armed wing, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and are negotiating with Damascus for their integration into the armed forces. Prior to the war, the Druze in Syria numbered around 700,000, or three percent of the population. The Druze are followers of an esoteric religion that split from Shiite Islam, and are mainly found in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Why Is Israel Intervening? Since the fall of Assad, Israel expanded its overture to Syria's Druze through notable Israeli coreligionists. It sent humanitarian parcels and allowed delegations of religious dignitaries to go to Israel on pilgrimage, despite an official state of war with Syria. In March, Israel expressed its intention to defend the Druze following skirmishes in the suburbs of Damascus, but these remarks were immediately rejected by Druze dignitaries, who reaffirmed their commitment to the unity of Syria. Israel has bombed several Syrian military positions in Sweida since Monday. "We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said, adding his country will "not stand idly by". On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with Katz said they "are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria".
Al-Ahram Weekly
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
What is happening in Syria's Druze-majority Sweida? - Region
The Syrian government deployed its forces in the Druze-majority city of Sweida, in a bid by the Islamist authorities to extend their power to the area controlled by local armed groups. Why did authorities take this major step, and what could follow? - How did it begin? - Clashes began on Sunday between factions from the Druze religious minority and Bedouin tribes, who are Sunni Muslim, killing more than 100 people. The two sides have a longstanding feud in Sweida. Syrian government forces sent reinforcements to the region, in the country's south, saying they want to reestablish security. But according to witnesses, Druze armed groups and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, government forces and allied groups including Bedouins took control on Monday of several villages near Sweida that were previously run by Druze fighters. On Tuesday, following contacts between Damascus authorities and notables from Sweida, the Syrian defence ministry announced a ceasefire after government forces had entered the city. Before then, Sweida, home to around 150,000 people, was controlled by various Druze factions. Syria's three main Druze spiritual leaders, who sometimes hold differing views on political issues, called on local fighters on Tuesday to lay down their arms. However, Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the leaders, then accused Damascus of failing to uphold its commitment to enter Sweida peacefully and called for "resisting this brutal campaign by all available means". Terrified residents of Sweida have reported numerous abuses since the entry of government troops and their allies, including executions, looting and burning houses. - What future awaits the Druze factions? - The new Islamist authorities, who seized power after overthrowing longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, had demanded the dissolution of all armed groups and their integration into the forces of the defence ministry. During Syria's 14-year civil war, which started after Assad's violent repression of peaceful protests in 2011, the Druze formed their own armed groups to protect their heartland in Sweida away from major battles. In January, the two largest groups, the Men of Dignity movement and the Mountain Brigade, said they were ready to join the new national army. "The state has been stalling the implementation of this agreement," Men of Dignity spokesperson Bassem Fakhr told AFP. Aside from the Druze, the Kurds, who control vast territories in the country's northeast, have a powerful armed wing, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and are negotiating with Damascus for their integration into the armed forces. Prior to the war, the Druze in Syria numbered around 700,000, or three percent of the population. The Druze are followers of an esoteric religion that split from Shiite Islam, and are mainly found in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. - Why is Israel intervening? - Since the fall of Assad, Israel expanded its overture to Syria's Druze through notable Israeli coreligionists. It sent humanitarian parcels and allowed delegations of religious dignitaries to go to Israel on pilgrimage, despite an official state of war with Syria. In March, Israel expressed its intention to defend the Druze following skirmishes in the suburbs of Damascus, but these remarks were immediately rejected by Druze dignitaries, who reaffirmed their commitment to the unity of Syria. Israel has bombed several Syrian military positions in Sweida since Monday. "We will not allow harm to the Druze in Syria," Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said, adding his country will "not stand idly by". On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with Katz said they "are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarisation of the area adjacent to our border with Syria". Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The National
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Governor of Druze-majority Suweida released after being held hostage at town hall
An armed group briefly held the governor of Syria 's Suweida province hostage at the town hall on Wednesday, demanding the release of a prisoner, who had previously been convicted of stealing several vehicles, Syria's Information Ministry said. The assailants stormed the government building at gunpoint, sealed its gates, and detained Governor Mustafa Al Bakour, along with employees and security guards, the ministry said, before eventually releasing them. Later, the convicted individual was released under threat, for the safety of the hostages. The same group has been implicated in similar thefts. 'The attackers brandished their machine guns at the governor, employees, and building guards after they had locked the doors. They claimed they were demanding the release of a relative detained in a car theft case,' the ministry said. 'Following the incident, Suweida 's Nationalist Factions, led by the Mountain Brigade, intervened to remove the outlawed group. The Men of Dignity movement was mobilised and secured the governor's exit route from the building.' The ministry said that 'enforcing the law and maintaining security in Suweida Governorate is an irreversible choice. We will not tolerate any attempt to destabilise security or undermine state institutions'. The Druze majority province of Suweida in south-western Syria continues to experience tension despite an agreement signed with the government earlier this month. Violence erupted in Syria earlier this month after an audio recording allegedly of a Druze citizen and considered blasphemous circulated on social media. Syrian authorities later said the recording was fake. Sunni militants attacked Druze towns near Damascus and more than a hundred Druze were killed as a result. Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri condemned at the time a 'genocidal campaign' against his people and called for 'international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes'. The Druze are a small religious sect that emerged from a branch of Islam in the 11th century. Their faith blends elements of Islam with ancient traditions. The Arabic-speaking minority is concentrated in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and estimated to be about 1 million. In Syria, the largest Druze population is based in the southern province of Suweida, as well as in certain Damascus suburbs such as Jaramana and Sahnaya. Their numbers in Syria are estimated at about 700,000.
Shafaq News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Suwayda: Gunmen raid Governor's office, expelled by local factions
Shafaq News/ Local factions in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda expelled an armed group after it stormed the governorate building, threatening the governor and staff at gunpoint, according to a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Information on Wednesday. The ministry said the group aimed to forcibly extract a suspect accused of car theft and succeeded in doing so under armed threat. In response, local forces led by the 'Mountain Brigade' intervened and drove the assailants out of the building, while militants from the 'Men of Dignity Movement' secured a safe exit route for the governor following the incident. Suwayda has witnessed multiple armed clashes in recent months involving local and irregular factions, some of which resulted in casualties. Fighting subsided after a local security agreement was reached with Damascus, allowing for the integration of Suwayda-based forces into the Syrian General Security Directorate to oversee local security.
