BEIRUT (AP) – On Saturday, hundreds of individuals gathered in the southern Syrian city of Sweida and other locations to demand the right to self-determination for the Druze minority. This marks the largest protest in the area since the deadly clashes that occurred last month. The protests signify an escalating desire among the Druze for more autonomy and an expression of frustration with the central government.
During the demonstrations, several protesters waved Israeli flags as a gesture of gratitude towards Israel for its military intervention during heavy clashes in mid-July between Druze militias and armed tribal groups along with government forces. This unique bond highlights the complexities of regional alliances and the Druze's precarious position within the conflict-ridden nation.
The protests are set against the backdrop of Syria’s ongoing issues with ethnic and religious divisions, which have intensified following the apparent collapse of the Assad family's rule in December. The situation remains fragile, with renewed outbreaks of violence in various regions, including coastal areas in March and in Sweida in July. These incidents expose the persistent instability in a country still healing from years of civil war.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, reported that protesters voiced their rejection of the interim central government based in Damascus and called for accountability for those responsible for atrocities committed against the Druze community. Some demonstrators appealed for Israeli assistance in their pursuit of self-determination, emphasizing their urgent need for support amidst ongoing oppression.
Rayyan Maarouf, the head of the activist media collective Suwayda 24, noted that Saturday's demonstration in Sweida was the largest since the violent confrontations last month. He indicated that similar protests took place in nearby towns, including Shahba and Salkhad. This event marks a significant moment in the history of Druze protests, as it is the first time they rallied under the banner of self-determination.
On July 13, significant clashes erupted between Druze militias and local Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes in Sweida, prompting intervention from government forces, who ostensibly aimed to restore order. However, the government troops ended up supporting the Bedouin tribes against the Druze. In response, Israel conducted several airstrikes targeting convoys of government fighters, demonstrating its strategic involvement in the conflict by launching strikes on the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in central Damascus.
The clashes resulted in numerous atrocities, with hundreds reported dead, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In response to the violence, the new interim government established a committee tasked with investigating civilian attacks amid the sectarian strife in southern Syria, with a report expected within three months.
The Druze religious sect, which originated as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism—a branch of Shiite Islam—boasts a population of approximately 1 million worldwide, with over half residing in Syria. The rest primarily live in Lebanon and Israel, particularly in the Golan Heights, a territory Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 war and subsequently annexed in 1981.
