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Druze seek Sweida autonomy and turn toward Israel, adding new twist to Syria’s tensions

Last month, Druze groups in Sweida established a de facto military and governing structure under the National Guard, amid sectarian attacks and Israeli strikes on Syrian government forces after Druze appeals.
Syrian government fighters entered Sweida over the summer, clashing with local armed groups and Bedouin clans as videos showed killings and humiliation, with hundreds of Druze civilians killed.
Public demonstrations in Karama Square showed mixed sentiment, with some Druze thanking Israel and others quickly removing an Israeli flag hoisted in March.
The situation has proven a major setback for Damascus, as last month it announced a road map with the United States and Jordan to return displaced people and deliver aid, but locals dismissed it.
Most of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, and many in Sweida now seek autonomy within a federal system while a smaller group calls for total partition.

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