Barrack backs Damascus control of Suwayda over Israeli-linked Druze sheikh

The United States has positioned itself on the side of the Syrian government in the ongoing standoff over the southern province of Suwayda. This stance contrasts sharply with the position taken by Israel, which has sought closer ties with local Druze leaders in the region.

On Friday, US special envoy Tom Barrack discussed the situation with Australian X personality Mario Nawfal. Barrack referred to a specific Druze sheikh, identified by analysts as Hikmat al-Hijri, and indicated that Washington prefers Damascus to maintain control over the governorate rather than a group aligned with al-Hijri. Al-Hijri leads the National Guard, a Druze armed faction accused of receiving support from Israel with separatist goals.

Barrack serves as the US ambassador to Turkiye and as a special envoy to Syria and Iraq. He is known for a direct diplomatic style, having previously described some media figures in Lebanon as animalistic. His recent comments are viewed as a clear signal to Jerusalem that American backing for al-Hijri does not exist. Washington has prioritized an agreement with President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus while Israel pursues its own security interests in the south.

The tension in Suwayda has deepened since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israel invaded parts of Quneitra governorate and other strategic areas immediately after the regime collapse. The new Syrian government has faced repeated Israeli incursions, including bombings of the Ministry of Defence and arrests of Syrians in the south. Israel has also engaged with the Druze community to build influence in the region.

Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, stated that Barrack's message was totally clear. He noted that Israel backing al-Hijri does not equal American backing. Saban said Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus, while Israel retains its own security demands and relationship with the region.

Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst who visited Suwayda in September, said Barrack's remarks expose differences between the US and Israel. Hawach argued that Washington is building a partner in Damascus, while Israel appears to prefer a government too weak to assert itself in the south. He added that Israel uses Suwayda as a lever against Damascus, offering enough support to keep the province reliant on Israeli protection but not enough to secure its future.

A trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 called for an independent international commission to investigate events in Suwayda and bring perpetrators to justice. That agreement followed deadly sectarian killings in July 2025 between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents. Major fighting has not resumed, but the province remains in a deadlock. Residents have cited pressure from Damascus on salaries, exams, and travel to the capital as reasons for their distrust. Saban emphasized that a durable settlement needs credible accountability for the 2025 events, along with guarantees for the protection of movement, education, and security for the Druze community.