Suwayda’s Struggle
Syria’s Druze are trapped between Israeli protection and Damascus’s rule.
Hikmat al-Hijri
Preventing Violence in Southern Syria Depends on Damascus and Jerusalem Reaching an Agreement
“Israel must maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria,” President Donald Trump said on December 1, amid rising tensions between the two countries. On November 27, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)...
Policy Briefs
Instability grows in Syria’s Druze heartland as ‘National Guard’ militia arrests opponents
On November 29, members of Suwayda’s National Guard, a militia affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al Hijri that describes itself as the “official military institution that represents...
Op-eds
The New Syrian Regime’s Dilemma
On September 24, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara’a addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, where he is still on the UN sanctions list for his leadership of an al-Qa’ida affiliate (though...
Op-eds
Druze Resist U.S.-Brokered Syria Stability Plan
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Policy Briefs
Profiles of militias in newly formed Druze national guard in Suwayda, Syria
On August 23, armed factions in the Suwayda province, Syria announced the formation of a national guard under the leadership of the Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al Hijri, the most prominent...
Op-eds
Druze City Offers Syria’s Leader Yet Another Challenge
Things are not getting any easier for Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his fractured country. On August 18, hundreds of Druze demonstrated in the city of Suwayda — where they make up the...
Policy Briefs
Clashes erupt in Syria’s Suwayda following US-brokered ceasefire
On August 3, clashes between local Druze militias, Sunni Arab tribal forces, and Syrian government troops in Syria’s Suwayda Governorate reignited after a two-week hiatus following a US-brokered...
Op-eds
Clashes intensify between Arab Bedouin tribes and Druze militias in Suwayda, Syria
Tensions in the Syrian governorate of Suwayda continue to rise following clashes between government forces and Druze militias affiliated with prominent Druze leader Hikmat al Hijri between July 14 and...
Op-eds
‘Working to Save Our Druze Brothers’: Israel Strikes Syrian Military Targets as Violence in Suwayda Escalates
IDF Strikes Damascus: The IDF struck the entrance of Syria’s military headquarters and another military target near the presidential palace in Damascus as it continued nationwide...