Syrian Druze Leader Hikmat al-Hijri Calls for Separate Autonomous Region

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Sweida, Syria — Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Syria’s Druze community, has called for the establishment of a separate autonomous region to protect his people following weeks of violent clashes in Sweida province.

The demand comes in the wake of sectarian fighting that erupted on July 13 between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin groups. The unrest quickly escalated, drawing in Syrian government forces and external militias. Local sources accuse Damascus of siding with the Bedouin, with reports of abuses and extrajudicial killings targeting the Druze population.

Speaking from his headquarters in Qanawat near Sweida city, al-Hijri declared that the recent bloodshed was an attempt to erase the Druze identity. He urged the international community to support the Druze in securing a self-administered region for their protection.

His remarks came during a meeting with representatives of the Men of Dignity, the largest Druze armed faction in Sweida, which pledged to unite under his leadership.

In parallel, dozens of smaller militias recently merged into a new coalition called the “National Guard,” signaling efforts to unify Druze defense forces under al-Hijri’s command.

Although a fragile ceasefire has taken hold, tensions remain high. Thousands have been displaced by the violence, while residents accuse Syrian authorities of imposing a blockade on Sweida — a claim Damascus denies, pointing to the delivery of aid convoys.

On August 16, hundreds of protesters rallied in Sweida demanding self-determination, with some waving Israeli flags — a provocative move that drew regional attention.

Israel, home to a large Druze community, launched airstrikes on Syrian government positions during the clashes, claiming the operations were meant to defend the Druze population and enforce its demand for a demilitarized southern Syria.

Syrian authorities have repeatedly dismissed any notion of decentralization or partition, maintaining their commitment to the country’s territorial integrity. However, al-Hijri’s call for autonomy highlights the growing sectarian and political fractures in post-Assad Syria.

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