Syria’s Druze avoids the worst civil war of 14 years – little to do with the new ruler
Opposition fighters have fallen for six months since Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, after a stunning rebel attack, occupied the country in just 11 days.
The months thereafter are full of hope and challenging. Under the leadership of the jihadist-turned-President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new Syrian government has achieved some success, most notably move Under his predecessors, Western sanctions were suffocated.
There is also extreme violence, especially against minorities in the country. The pro-Assad uprising on the Syrian coast in March followed by Revenge killing Oppose the Alavit community, only two weeks ago ISIS bombing Dozens of Christians were killed in a church in Damascus.
Amid this uncertainty, other ethnic minorities in Syria find themselves in difficult positions, and other powers in the region (from Israel to Turkey to Iran) are seeking to exploit.
In particular, a community finds itself in a delicate state: Druze.
Neither Druze was Muslim or Christian, but a profound sect whose secret beliefs included reincarnation.
Although it is only 90 minutes’ drive from the Syrian capital Damascus, Suwayda’s Druze stronghold feels like a world. Alcohol seems to be sold in every third store; women’s turbans are barely present. Security forces from the new government were also absent – the only armed personnel present came from Druze’s own militia, who so far refused to allow the symbolicity of Damascus.
Suwayda is unique in the Syrian province as it manages to avoid almost the entire devastating 14-year civil war in the country. The local Druze, which accounts for 90% of the region’s population, expelled the Assad regime and its agents in 2012, has since drawn up a course in which they neither helped Assad’s government nor rebels against him.
“It’s a war between Sunnis and Alawites,” said local coffee shop owner Amjad Tarif. “We have nothing to do with it.”
After decades of administration, the Assad regime has become a Syrian rebel group led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Andrew Chang broke the fierce battle for two weeks, which brought this earthquake breakthrough to the rebels. Images provided by Getty Images, Canadian Media and Reuters link. Additional credits: 0:05: BBC News/YouTube, 0:09: PBS Newshour/YouTube, 0:13: Social media via REUTERS, 0:14: Social media via Reuters, 1:52: French 24 English/YouTube, 1:56, 1:56: French 24 English/YouTube, 1:57: ABC (Australia)/YouTube (Australia)/YouTube (Australia)/YouTube (Australia)/YouTube (Australia)
“We can only rely on ourselves”
Druze also hopes to have nothing to do with Syria’s new rulers after sitting down with the worst civil war.
“The only way we can defend our rights is through decentralization,” said Bader Kmash, a Druze activist. “We cannot live under the direct rule of a group that previously killed our people. No one here trusts them.”
Killing Kmash refers to the occurrence of June 10, 2015, when combatants were associated with the Al-Nusra Front – the organization led by the current Syrian President Sharaa – Shoot at least 20 druzes In a village in the northwest of the country. The incident impressed the community and was mentioned in any conversation about the new government.
“The people who performed this act are now in charge of Syria,” said Druz politician Muhsina al-Mahathawi. “They didn’t even apologize for it, let alone make any changes.”
The 2015 killings weren’t Druze’s only tragedy in the past decade.
In July 2018, ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, initiated a Large-scale attacks On Suwayda. A burst of fighter jets poured out of the desert in the eastern part of the province, stopped only by the hasty-organized Druz defenders. When the battle was raging, it was suicide bombers who slid into Suvada’s busy market and detonated themselves. More than 200 people were killed in a day.
“Fighting lasted more than 14 hours from dawn to dusk,” Mehdi Faraj, 33, fought in the battle himself. “No one can help us: No [Assad] Government or any foreign country. ”
The brutal conflict has made the local attitude towards the need to maintain its own militia.
“That’s why we Druz can never put down our weapons,” Faraj said. “We have always been armed because we can only rely on ourselves.”
Oppose the new government
The politician Mahathawi has been a drama center for the new authorities. At the beginning of the year, she was nominated by the Druze community Be the governor Suwayda, awaiting approval from Damascus. Sharaa expressed disgust and instead sent an Islamic commander to serve as his governor – a decision that almost ended after a new appointment Kidnapped by muzzle Druze militia.
While Sharaa and its allies in Suwayda have few supporters, some go further than other opposition parties.
One of the main figures targeting the new government was Druze’s spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmet al-Hijri. Sigri sat in the compound of the town of Caravat, slamming salad for “failing to include” Druze in the country’s future decisions.
“We have been with [the new government] Since the third day after Assad fell, it has been clear that they are not listening to us,” Higri said. “No one Druze involved in drafting a new constitution. The government said they will work with us, but that’s just a sentence – they did nothing. ”
One aspect of the shocking Hijri and other druzes is the main role Türkiye plays in the construction of a new Syrian country. During the Ottoman Empire and the 2015 massacre, Druze’s historic persecution of Druze merged with new anxiety.
“We can clearly see the role of Turkey,” said Hieri. “There are many trends of Salavs and extremism in the new government, and Turkey has always been happy to support these groups. We can also see what Turkey does to the Kurds – killing them, destroying their culture. So, of course, this is very concerned about us.”
Fear of Türkiye’s influence has opened up some Druzes to protect another regional power: Israel.
Since Assad collapsed, Israel has become a new power broker in southern Syria, occupying territory and attacking villages on a long border migration force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet also take “protection” of Syria’s Druze community as a Potential Tripwire If the latter is threatened, please intervene more in Syria.
Druze also lives in Israel
Unlike most Syrians, the will of the Port of Druze to Israel will be somewhat ill, which has its own large and good Druze population. Druze of Israel is one of the only minority communities serving in the IDF, and family ties to Druze of Syria are both a defender and a source of true pro-Israeli sentiment.
Israel’s problems have other significance after the conflict in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus, consisting mainly of Druze – February and April. Israel carried out air strikes on Syrian government affiliated forces, which clashed with Druze fighters following the latter incident.
Syrian government Denied participation In these conflicts, blame them on the rogue element. negotiation Regularly between the new authorities and the famous Druze figures, preventing the new slide from falling into violence but failing to address deeper issues.
Analysts say things have been somewhat calm since the battle in April.
“Israel’s attempt to exploit Druze’s concerns and instability seems to have failed,” said Charles Lister, director of the Syrian Initiative at the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East College Syrian Initiative.
Lister said this was partly due to the beginning of “direct and indirect negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem.”
When Druze tries to find his place in New Syria, their final position is far from certain.
“The Syrian transition only has legs if it can prove it successfully and meaningfully integrates and empowers its ethnic minorities and regions,” Leicester said. “It’s definitely not yet, but we must continue to remind ourselves that we have only six months of transition.”
Israel’s recent role in Syria – including air strikes and Raids in border villages – There is still controversy, but if violence returns, many Druzes are at least open to Israel’s support.
“We are not entirely here,” said Druz fighter Faraj. “All Syrian druz have family in Israel. If we are under attack, we will call our cousins there and we will deal with any threats from Damascus.”
