The Druze in Syria: Caught Between Conflict and Survival Amid Assad’s Fall
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government has left Syria in a state of uncertainty, with different factions vying for power. While much attention has been given to the Sunni Muslim majority, Kurds, and other religious minorities, the Druze community in southern Syria’s Suwayda province has found itself at a critical crossroads. Unlike Muslims or Christians, the Druze are an ethnic and religious minority with a distinct faith incorporating elements of Islam, Hinduism, and classical Greek philosophy. They have historically maintained a cautious distance from Syria’s conflicts, but with Assad gone and new power struggles emerging, the Druze are now forming their own military council to safeguard their people.
On February 24, armed Druze factions in Suwayda announced the formation of the Suwayda Military Council, a coalition aimed at protecting the Druze community from external threats, criminal groups, and government oppression. This comes after years of suffering under the Assad regime and the brutality of extremist groups like ISIS, which targeted the Druze for refusing to convert to Islam. Though the Druze had a fragile coexistence with the Syrian state before Assad’s downfall, they were largely left to fend for themselves when security forces withdrew from Suwayda. Now, the creation of the Suwayda Military Council signals a new phase in their struggle for security and self-determination.
The council originally emerged as the Interim Military Council in December 2024, shortly after Assad’s government fell. Its leader, Tareq Al Shoufi, has stated that the group does not seek separatism but aims to integrate into a unified Syrian army, advocating for secularism, democracy, and decentralization. However, not all Druze leaders have embraced the move. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, a prominent Druze spiritual leader, has outright rejected the council, accusing it of representing only a small faction of the community. This internal divide reflects a broader uncertainty about the future of Syria and how the Druze should navigate this new political landscape.
For years, Suwayda functioned under a precarious balance of power. While it remained technically under Assad’s rule, security was weak, and criminal gangs flourished, many of them backed by the regime. The fall of Assad caused these groups to collapse, creating a temporary sense of safety. However, the broader Syrian conflict is far from over. The new interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa—better known by his militant alias Abu Mohammad al-Julani—was previously the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, Al-Nusra Front. His rise to power has raised concerns among the Druze, who fear that Islamist factions could try to impose their rule on Suwayda. Although HTS has not fully entered the province due to resistance from the local population, suspicions remain high.
According to Druze sources, many in the community are skeptical of al-Sharaa’s leadership. His past as a jihadist commander and the opaque nature of his government’s formation—announced not through official channels but via Telegram groups controlled by militia leaders—have led some to believe that his rule will be just as authoritarian as Assad’s. The Suwayda Military Council, therefore, sees itself as a necessary safeguard against potential future oppression.
The council has adopted a flag similar to the one used by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), replacing its emblem with a Druze five-pointed star. This symbolic choice suggests a potential alignment with the SDF, which has been one of the most stable and organized forces in post-Assad Syria. In addition to security, the council is working to consolidate its influence by compiling a database of former Syrian Arab Army (SAA) officers and security personnel willing to serve in a restructured Druze force.
The move has not gone unnoticed outside Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared that Israel will not tolerate any threats to the Druze community in southern Syria. This statement was well received among many Druze, some of whom have expressed pro-Israel sentiments on social media. In particular, Majed Najem Abu Ras, the leader of a Druze faction within the Suwayda Military Council, has urged young Druze to join the movement, sharing posts from Israeli Druze leaders who support the cause. This raises questions about possible external backing for the council, particularly from Israel, which has historically maintained close ties with the Druze community within its borders.
The Suwayda Military Council’s formation has received mixed reactions from civilians. Some see it as a necessary step toward protecting the Druze from future violence, while others fear that the lack of a clear political strategy could leave Suwayda vulnerable. Historically, the Druze have resisted radical ideologies, and those in Israel have even served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, the broader Druze community in Syria remains politically divided.
The biggest challenge now is ensuring that the council does not become another fragmented militia. Previous Druze armed groups in Suwayda lacked unity and were often disorganized, making them ineffective in the long run. If the council is to succeed, it must secure political support and work toward broader recognition in the new Syrian political framework. The lack of transparency from the interim government under al-Sharaa has only fueled further doubts, and unless a formal political process is initiated, the situation in Suwayda may remain unstable.
For now, the Druze are walking a tightrope. With Islamist factions vying for control, a government that lacks credibility, and neighboring powers watching closely, their future remains uncertain. The Suwayda Military Council may provide temporary protection, but unless a long-term strategy is developed, the Druze could once again find themselves caught in the crossfire of Syria’s ongoing conflict.