This was stated in a statement issued by the Kingdom, which renewed its full support for the measures taken by the Syrian government to enhance security and stability, maintain national sovereignty, and preserve the unity of Syrian territory and state institutions, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Earlier today, Tuesday, Syrian media reported “intensive Israeli air activity in the skies of Quneitra province.” Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze religious leaders in the province, on Monday, called for international support to form a separate region. In a speech during his meeting with the new leader of the “Men of Dignity Movement,” Mazid Khadaj, he appealed to “the honorable people of the world and free countries to stand with the Druze community to declare a separate region forever.”
He also considered that the “National Guard,” recently formed from armed Druze groups, “will defend the land with guarantees from countries concerned with this matter,” as he put it. He pointed out that “the recent ordeal was intended to exterminate the Druze community,” according to his claim.
These statements came days after the U.S. special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, formally met with the Druze spiritual leader in Israel, Mowafaq Tarif, in the French capital, Paris, where they discussed the situation in Sweida. Sweida witnessed clashes and confrontations lasting a week on July 13th last year between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, prompting government security forces to intervene to stop the confrontations between the two sides while an estimated 200,000 people were displaced due to the conflict, according to United Nations estimates.
The Syrian interim government announced the formation of an investigation committee to look into the violations “committed by armed groups and some government elements,” pledging to hold those responsible accountable and bring them to the competent judiciary once investigations are completed.
On July 19th last year, a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire was announced in Sweida, calling on all parties, without exception, to “fully comply with this decision and immediately cease all combat operations in all areas, ensure the protection of civilians, and secure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.”
