WASHINGTON D.C.— Citizens for a Secure and Safe America (C4SSA) is deeply concerned about the violence that has been unfolding in Suwayda, Syria over the past six days and calls for immediate de-escalation of tensions, protection of civilians, and respect for rule of law across the region.
The latest escalation in Suwayda has led to more than a hundred casualties and displacement of civilians, with new reports pointing to an ethnic cleansing of Bedouin communities by Israeli-backed militias. This troubling development follows a regionally mediated agreement that was rejected by Hikmat al-Hijri, whose loyalists have committed grave abuses against Syrian government forces as well as civilians. Meanwhile, efforts to stabilize the situation by local Druze security factions– particularly those aligned with Laith al-Balous– appear to have been sidelined.
Additionally, Israeli airstrikes, which have targeted Syrian military installations across the country– including sustained attacks on Suwayda– have only intensified the chaos and undermined efforts to stabilize the situation. While Syrian government forces initially sought to contain the violence, protect the Druze community, and broker a return to local security control, they were stifled by constant Israeli bombardment.
We reject in the strongest terms any separatist agenda that aims to sow chaos and division and to destabilize Syria’s nascent recovery from a 14-year long war. The future of Syria must be one of unity, sovereignty, and inclusive governance—not fragmentation. C4SSA continues to advocate for the protection of minorities, who are integral to the national Syrian identity, and denounces rogue gunmen who claim to act in their name. Syria’s diversity is a source of strength, not a weakness to be exploited by those who wish to see its downfall.
This violence is evidently a result of foreign interference in Syria’s affairs by malign actors, fueled by widespread misinformation in the wake of Syria’s liberation. The Syrian government, just seven months into its transition, must prioritize genuine reconciliation as it navigates this latest security challenge.
We stand firmly with all of Syria’s communities against any attempt to redraw Syria’s borders and urge all actors, including external stakeholders, to press for an immediate end to hostilities and to support the stabilization of Suwayda through diplomacy and inclusive governance. The Syrian people can only achieve lasting peace through unity and respect for the rights of all.
