ISTANBUL

Spiraling violence in Syria has turned global attention to the Druze community, a minority group at the center of recent clashes in the southern province of Suwayda.

Fighting erupted last weekend after a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings and vehicle confiscations between Druze militias and Bedouin groups. Tensions escalated rapidly, with Druze armed groups launching attacks on Syrian security forces, resulting in heavy casualties.

Israel, claiming to act in defense of the Druze, launched airstrikes on Damascus – including the Presidential Palace, Defense Ministry, and General Staff headquarters – as well as in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa, sparking global concern and calls for restraint.

Two ceasefires reached between the Syrian government and leaders of the Druze have collapsed. Heavy clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups resumed on Friday, spurring fears that the violence could escalate further in the coming days.

Who are the Druze?

The Druze community involved in the clashes is an ethno-religious minority with roots in 11th-century Egypt. Originating from Ismaili Shia Islam, the Druze faith incorporates elements from Islam, Hinduism, and classical Greek philosophy, according to the Pew Research Center.

This Arab community call themselves “muwahhidun,” or unitarians, regarding Arabic language and culture as central to their identity. The Druze are known for being a close-knit and secretive community, with strict prohibitions against conversions and intermarriage, and practices that remain largely unknown to outsiders.

Globally, the Druze number around 1 million, with populations in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan.

In Syria, they are concentrated in Suwayda province, forming around 2-3% of the national population. In Israel, there are significant communities in Galilee, Carmel, and the occupied Golan Heights.

Syria hosts the largest number of Druze – more than 700,000 as of the early 2020s. Lebanon is home to nearly 300,000 Druze, comprising about 5.2% of its population, most of whom live in rural and mountainous areas east and south of Beirut.

Do the Druze align themselves with Israel?

Some leaders and members of the Druze community in Syria maintain ties with Israel, particularly through military service. The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics estimates around 152,000 Druze live in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, where residents are entitled to Syrian or Israeli citizenship.

Druze members are conscripted into the Israeli military and have historically served in border security and the diplomatic corps.

Many served in the now-defunct Herev (Sword) Battalion, which was dismantled in 2015. Druze fighters have also participated in previous Arab-Israeli wars.

After the recent violence in Suwayda, Israel claimed its airstrikes were launched to protect the Druze community inside Syria, but that claim has drawn criticism and skepticism from various Druze and regional leaders.

Are Druze leaders united in their stance?

Druze leaders have been divided over the ceasefires. According to reports, some senior Druze figures, such as Sheikh Hammoud al-Hinnawi, have endorsed the agreement and pledged cooperation with the Syrian government while rejecting Israeli intervention.

Veteran Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt echoed this view, condemning Israel for exploiting tensions under the guise of protecting the Druze. Manipulating members of the Druze community under the pretext of protection is a threat to regional stability, he warned.

However, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, an influential cleric who leads the largest Druze faction, has refused to accept the ceasefire. Rejecting any compromise with Damascus, he has appealed directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to intervene.

In response, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of national unity and denounced Israel’s actions. “The Druze people are an integral part of the fabric of this homeland,” he said on state television early Thursday.

Sharaa said his government chose dialogue over escalation, allowing room for Druze leaders to participate in negotiations, rather than entering a war with Israel “at the expense of our Druze people and their security, and destabilizing Syria and the entire region.”