Druze protests spread throughout Syria

Protests of discontent regarding the abolition of government fuel subsidies have been raging in southern Syria, the regional Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reports. The unrest epicenter was the As-Suwayda Governorate mainly inhabited by the Druze, an Arabic ethno-confessional community.

The ominous financial and economic situation forced the Syrian government to cancel the state surcharge on the cost of petroleum products and household gas throughout the country starting September this year, which sent up prices for gasoline, diesel fuel and gas. The similarly affected residents of the densely populated Damascus, Hama and Homs governorates did not take to the streets, though, and the unrest only embraced southern Syria’s Druze-inhabited areas.

The actions of protest have been led by a local big dog, Druze Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, whose supporters accuse the government of corruption, embezzlement, covering up for drug traffic and distribution. The most radically-minded activists are even calling for regime change.

The Americans jumped at the opportunity of exploiting Al-Hajri's activities — naturally, to incite a conflict with the central authorities. Journalist and Middle East researcher Steven Sahyounie claims that recent days have seen American Democratic Congressmen French Hill and Brendan Boyle’s numeous voice contacts with Al-Hijari to discuss financial support for the protest movement and its "appropriate" propaganda in the Western media.

At the same time, another Syria’s Druze minister of religion, Sheikh Youssef Jarbukh, has an opposite opinion, advocating for stronger community cohesion under the government’s wing.

The Druze profess closed beliefs that differ from those of Christians, Muslims or Jews. Despite varying political preferences, the clan-based community stands out for cohesion, reciprocation, well-organized protection of security interests and intellectual advancement. Responsibility for educating children, especially boys, rests with the family. The Druze are excellent warriors, with military training starting as early as in boyhood days.

Most of the Syrian community traditionally and historically lives in As-Suwayda and Quneitra governorates, partly in Deraa. There are separate Druze districts in a Damascus suburb. Large communities are also located in Mount Lebanon and northern Israel, with their core competence being agricultural production, handicrafts, and military service. The latter particularly refers to Israel: one of its army’s most combat-ready brigades, the Golani armored brigade, equipped with the latest Merkava tanks, is fully staffed with the Israeli Druze.

The Syrian Druze have not engaged in what’s been going on since 2011. However, they did not let groups of ISIS terrorists to southern areas controlled by them, for which the payoff came seven years later. In 2018, Islamic terrorists attacked a Druze village, taking 28 hostages, women and kids. All the Syrian authorities’ attempts to free them proved unsuccessful. After Lebanon Druze leader Walid Jumblatt’s personal appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, our country’s special forces conducted a liberation operation, though two hostages never survived to see freedom, unfortunately.

As-Suwayda has now become the epicenter of protests advocating for Bashar al-Assad's replacement and economic reforms. Steven Sahyounie considers this an implication of Syria’s disastrous economic situation, sanctions imposed against it, across-the-board government corruption, and efforts by Western intelligence services, primarily American, to set the stage for Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.

Notably, this year’s August witnessed armed clashes in northern Syria (Al-Hasakah Governorate) between pro-government tribes and pro-American Kurdish formations. The conflict was settled by outright bribery of tribal leaders.

Right afterwards, enmity broke out almost from scratch in Deir ez-Zor Governorate between pro-Syrian formations and the regular military, which resulted in accusing Syria’s top army officials of corruption and power abuse.

Investigators revealed US involvement, with provocations carried out in response to the Syrian government’s official appeal to UNSC demanding an end to American occupation and shameless plundering of natural resources. The document was sent to New York but predictably got lost in space and time…

In the struggling economy, one may expect increased provocations on the part of US, British, Turkish, and other countries’ special services aimed to cause turbulence in Syria and arrange for regime overthrow.