One Druze Sheikh at Center of US-Syria Rift

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack signaled on Friday that Washington favors direct Syrian government control over the southern governorate of Suwayda. Speaking to Australian X personality Mario Nawfal, Barrack referred to a specific Druze sheikh, widely identified as Hikmat al-Hijri. The comment suggests the US does not support a local faction linked to Israel.

Suwayda remains one of the last regions where the Syrian government lacks full authority. The province has a Druze majority and is home to the National Guard, an armed group connected to al-Hijri. Israel has been accused of supporting this group with separatist ambitions. Barrack's remarks are viewed as a direct response to those claims.

The US has worked to rebuild ties with Damascus since President Bashar al-Assad fell in December 2024. President Donald Trump maintains a strong relationship with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. He views instability as a threat to the country's reconstruction after 13 years of war. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a different view of the new leadership.

Tensions escalated in July 2025 when sectarian fighting broke out in Suwayda. Bedouin tribes clashed with Druze residents, resulting in heavy casualties among the Druze. Reports indicated that government-aligned forces joined the Bedouins. Israel intervened by attacking Syrian forces entering the province. Since then, Israel has sought to build relationships with local leaders who oppose Damascus.

Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that Barrack's message was explicit. He said, "Israel backing [al-Hijri] does not equal American backing. Washington has prioritised an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands and relationship." Saban emphasized that the US is building a partner in Damascus, while Israel prefers a weaker Syrian government.

A trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 called for an independent international commission to investigate the July 2025 events. The deal stated that perpetrators would be brought to justice. While major fighting has stopped, a deadlock persists. Many residents in Suwayda distrust the government due to economic pressure and past violence.

Analyst Nanar Hawach visited Suwayda in September and observed the ongoing standoff. He stated, "Israel appears intent on a lasting military presence in southern Syria, and it uses Suwayda as a lever against Damascus." Hawach added that al-Hijri's influence grows when the community feels threatened, making it harder for Damascus to assert control without further backlash.

Saban argued that a durable settlement requires credible accountability for the 2025 violence. He said the Druze need guarantees for movement, education, and security. Neither weakening al-Hijri nor restoring government institutions alone will rebuild trust in the province.