Following the surrender of Syria’s Kurdish forces, the government in Damascus is turning its attention toward the Druze stronghold in southern Syria, amid growing tensions over the community’s relationship with Israel.

A Syrian security official told Kan News that Israel is providing weekly aerial assistance to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri and members of his “National Guard,” claiming the Israeli support is making the possibility of reaching an agreement with Damascus increasingly remote.

According to the Syrian official, Damascus views Israel’s alleged support for al-Hijri and efforts to strengthen his position as counterproductive, contrasting his demands with those made by the Kurds.

Tensions have intensified following remarks by al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, declaring that the Druze are an “inseparable part of Israel.”

Al-Hijri has emerged as a dominant figure among Syria’s Druze following deadly attacks carried out by forces aligned with the Syrian regime in the Druze Mountain region. He has taken an increasingly hard line against the government of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa while advocating closer relations with Israel and separation from Damascus.

Those positions, coupled with what Syrian officials claim are increasingly close ties between al-Hijri’s forces and Israel, have raised alarms in Damascus as the government shifts its focus toward the Druze-controlled south.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)