US envoy says Washington wants Damascus to run Suwayda, not local militias

Syria’s southern governorate of Suwayda remains one of the few areas where the central government lacks full control. The region is majority Druze and has become a flashpoint between Damascus and Israel. US special envoy Tom Barrack recently stated that Washington favors Syrian government authority over local armed groups.

Barrack made these remarks on Friday during a conversation with Australian X personality Mario Nawfal. He referred to a specific Druze sheikh, believed to be Hikmat al-Hijri, who leads the National Guard. This armed group is linked to al-Hijri and has been accused of receiving support from Israel.

The National Guard is said to have separatist ambitions. Barrack’s comments are seen as a signal to Israel that US support for the sheikh does not equate to US support for the group itself. The US has been rebuilding ties with Damascus since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Israel took a different path immediately after the Assad government collapsed. It invaded parts of Quneitra governorate and other strategic areas. Israeli forces have also bombed the Syrian Ministry of Defence and harassed residents in the south. This divergence has created tension between the two allies on how to handle the new Syrian leadership.

The friction in Suwayda intensified in July 2025. Fighting broke out between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents, resulting in deadly sectarian killings. Government-linked forces reportedly joined the Bedouins, while casualties were overwhelmingly Druze. Israel intervened by attacking Syrian government forces entering the province.

Since that summer, Israel has reportedly tried to build favor with local leaders, including al-Hijri. He remains opposed to the new leadership in Damascus. A trilateral agreement was signed in Amman, Jordan, in September 2025. The deal called for an independent international commission to investigate the events of July 2025 and ensure perpetrators were held accountable.

Despite the agreement, the situation remains in a deadlock. Residents in Suwayda continue to distrust the government, citing pressure on salaries and education. Analysts note that al-Hijri’s influence grows when the Druze community feels threatened. His authority wavers as the sense of danger recedes.

Navvar Saban, a researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, said Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus. He noted that Israel retains its own security demands. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst, added that Israel uses Suwayda as a lever against Damascus. This strategy keeps the province reliant on Israeli protection while preventing it from securing a stable future.