Today on World in Focus, we head to Suwayda, a mountainous province in southern Syria and the historic heartland of the Druze, a close-knit and secretive religious minority with deep roots in the Levant.
For decades, the Druze have largely kept to themselves, maintaining a delicate balance of loyalty and distance from the Assad regime. But now, escalating clashes between local armed groups and regime forces, combined with cross-border Israeli airstrikes, have thrown this quiet region into the center of a rapidly shifting geopolitical chessboard.
So, who are the Druze?
An esoteric offshoot of Islam dating back to the 11th century, the Druze religion is shrouded in secrecy, closed to outsiders, and deeply tied to identity and land. Numbering just over a million across Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, the Druze have long practiced political pragmatism, often aligning with the dominant power to ensure their community’s survival.
But Suwayda has seen a shift. Amid economic collapse and deepening frustration, Druze youth have increasingly protested the Assad regime, demanding autonomy and reforms. The Syrian government’s response has been forceful, triggering military deployments, curfews, and arrests.
Meanwhile, Israel’s recent airstrikes in the region, officially targeting Iranian-linked militias, have raised eyebrows. With Hezbollah active in southern Syria and Iran tightening its grip, Israel’s actions suggest a broader campaign to limit Iranian influence, even if that means striking near sensitive minority areas.
Why does it matter?
The fighting in Suwayda is not just local — it reflects Syria’s fragmented post-war landscape, where religious identity, proxy conflict, and external intervention collide. For Israel, it’s a strategic calculation. For the Druze, it’s a test of survival and sovereignty in an increasingly hostile region.
As the Middle East braces for further instability, Suwayda may be a bellwether, revealing how even the quietest corners of Syria can become flashpoints in a larger, regional struggle.
