Barrack states US supports Syrian government control in Suwayda dispute
The special envoy's comments to a social media personality mark a public departure from Israeli positions on the southern governorate.
By Amelia Gupta ·
US special envoy Tom Barrack told an Australian social media personality on Friday that Washington favors control by the Syrian government over the southern governorate of Suwayda. Barrack spoke with Mario Nawfal on the X platform, identifying a "particular Druze sheikh" as a point of contention. Analysts identify this figure as Hikmat al-Hijri, a religious and political leader in Suwayda whose National Guard is linked to Israel.
Suwayda is a majority Druze region where the central government in Damascus does not hold full authority. Barrack’s remarks are viewed as a direct signal to Israel, which has supported al-Hijri and accused him of separatist ambitions. Israel has conducted military operations against Syrian ministries and forces in the south while courting the local Druze community.
Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, described Barrack's message as unambiguous. "Israel backing [al-Hijri] does not equal American backing," Saban said. "Washington has prioritised an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands and relationship." This stance aligns with the close relationship between US President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who views stability as essential for national reconstruction.
Tensions escalated in July 2025 after sectarian fighting between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents resulted in heavy casualties, predominantly on the Druze side. Israel intervened by striking government forces entering the province. Since then, al-Hijri has opposed the new Damascus leadership, while Israel has provided support to the National Guard. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst, noted that Israel appears to use the region to maintain leverage against the central government.
Following the violence, the US, Syria, and Jordan signed a trilateral agreement in Amman in September 2025. The accord stipulated that Syria would invite an independent international commission to investigate the events and pursue justice for perpetrators. Despite the agreement, a deadlock persists as many residents in Suwayda remain distrustful of the government.
Hawach noted that al-Hijri’s influence grows when the community perceives external threats. "Each side points to the other’s hard line to justify its own," Hawach said. "That keeps Suwayda’s future framed in security terms and crowds out the many residents, clerics and local figures seeking a path between central rule and separation." Residents feel government pressure through salary adjustments and administrative hurdles.
Saban emphasized that a durable settlement requires credible accountability for the 2025 killings. "The Druze need to be guaranteed protection of movement, education and security," Saban said. "Neither weakening Hijri, nor restoring government institutions alone will rebuild the trust."
