Al-Sharaa Responds to Sweida Clashes: Local Factions and Sheikhs Tasked with Security
Following deadly armed clashes in the southern province of Sweida, Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa announced in a televised address that he has officially delegated responsibility for maintaining security and order in the region to local factions and religious sheikhs.
The president described the recent Sweida clashes as part of a broader foreign-driven attempt — led by Israel, he claimed — to destabilize Syria and ignite internal conflict. He vowed that the Syrian state will hold all aggressors accountable, especially those who targeted civilians and sought to exploit sectarian divisions.
“What happened in Sweida is not an isolated incident, but a continuation of the Israeli project to spread chaos and destroy the national fabric of Syria,” Al-Sharaa declared.
Al-Sharaa emphasized that the Syrian state remains the umbrella for all Syrians, and that unity is the only path forward. Addressing the Druze community directly, he reaffirmed their central role in Syria’s identity and warned against any external efforts to divide the nation.
The president also said some armed groups in Sweida resisted reconciliation efforts and rejected dialogue, choosing instead to escalate violence for personal or political gain.
Despite the recent violence, he said the government has managed to restore a degree of stability in the province and prevent the outbreak of a wider conflict through regional mediation.
“We are not afraid of war, but we chose national interest and the safety of our people over chaos and destruction,” Al-Sharaa added.
The decision to assign security duties to trusted local leaders and sheikhs is seen as a strategic move to ease tensions on the ground and restore confidence among Sweida’s residents.
