Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the Druze religious leaders in Syria, has formed an armed force in the southern governorate of As-Suwayda, which Laith al-Bal‘ous, a leader in the “Men of Dignity” movement, described as a copy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
اضافة اعلان
Syrian state TV al-Ikhbariyah quoted al-Bal‘ous on Saturday evening as saying:
“The people of As-Suwayda were expecting Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri—whom some consider a reference figure—to appear with a unifying stance, offering solutions and leading the people toward safety.”
He added that “the sheikh is surrounded by a group of militia leaders, some of whom were previously known for kidnapping, theft, looting, and extorting women.”
Al-Bal‘ous, leader of the “Men of Dignity” group, considered the declaration of forming what is being called the “National Guard” a name directly copied from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
For 14 years (2011–2024), the IRGC took part in the war waged by then-President Bashar al-Assad’s regime against protesters, which is why many Syrians see it as complicit in their killing and displacement.
Criticizing the so-called “National Guard,” al-Bal‘ous said:
“The message was not one of wisdom or responsibility (from al-Hijri), but rather one carrying more destruction and ruin.”
He praised the position of the “Men of Dignity Movement” for not being among the militias that announced their formation under the name of the National Guard, describing this as “a hopeful sign.”
According to a circulated video clip cited by al-Ikhbariyah, al-Hijri announced the creation of the “National Guard” from armed factions pledging full allegiance to him and expressing readiness to fight what they called “Salafi terrorist groups.”
The channel added that “some believe a faction in As-Suwayda does not want a solution and believes in a zero-sum outcome.”
As of 08:50 GMT, Damascus had not issued any official statement regarding this new faction.
Syrian officials, particularly President Ahmad al-Shar‘, have repeatedly stressed that the Druze are “an integral component” of the Syrian people and that their protection is the responsibility of the state, which guarantees equal rights to all Syrians.
The Druze of As-Suwayda have three religious authorities (“Sheikhs al-‘Aql”), whose positions sometimes differ: Hammoud al-Hannawi, Yusuf Jarbou‘, and Hikmat al-Hijri—whose followers are considered by observers a minority not representing the true stance of the community.
Jarbou‘ and al-Hannawi have often voiced their rejection of seeking protection from Israel, insisting instead on national unity.
By contrast, al-Hijri has repeatedly appealed to Israel for intervention and expressed gratitude to it, which activists say undermined efforts to resolve the latest crisis in the governorate.
Since July 19, As-Suwayda has observed a ceasefire following a week of armed clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes that left hundreds dead.
Israel invoked the pretext of “protecting the Druze” to escalate its aggression on Syria, which Damascus condemned as blatant interference, demanding that Tel Aviv comply with the 1974 disengagement agreement signed between the two sides.
Since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, after 24 years in power, Syria’s new administration has been working intensively to restore security across the country.
The new government, led by al-Shar‘, has not threatened Israel in any way, yet Israel has continued launching airstrikes on Syria, killing civilians and destroying Syrian army sites, vehicles, and ammunition.
Israel has occupied most of the Syrian Golan Heights since 1967 and exploited the fall of Assad to expand its occupation of the Golan, including the buffer zone. – (Anadolu)
