The onslaught of the Turkish backed Jihadists in Syria continues to shock the world - both at the speed of its success and the brutality that it is employing against the non-Jihadists it encounters. With the Assad regime clearly on its last legs, the Druze minority in southern Syria is doing something the Druze never do in their host country and that is appear disloyal. The Druze have survived over the centuries by sensing the direction of current events and if the Druze are right as they often are Assad will not be in power for long.
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of the Druze in southern Syria, announced his support for the right of the residents of Aleppo and Idlib to return to their homes from which they were expelled (by the Assad regime). al-Hajri added: “We are facing a historical turning point and a possibility to end the struggle and stop the Syrian killing machine that has resulted in the death and deportation of the Syrians over the years. We call on the international community to act for a just and complete political change.”
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri’s statement is a clear declaration by the Druze community in Syria that Assad is on his way out. However, it does not mean that the Druze are overly fond by the Jihadists that are threatening to take over. After all, according to reports Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the al-Qeida linked Turkish backed rebels would most certainly wipe out the Druze population if they did not convert. This is why Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri is asking the international community to act to ensure that not only the Assad regime is overthrown, but to make sure Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham does not take over.
The Druze in Syria primarily live in the As Suwayda region, not so far from the Golan Heights. As Suwayda was meant to be the seat of an autonomous Druze region under the French Mandate called Jabal Al Druze. Jabal Al Druze lasted from 1922 to 1936 when the French ended it due to pressure from the Alawites in Syria. Yet, the Druze like their counterparts in Southern Lebanon have remained in a quasi unofficial local autonomy. Neither side has been fully embraced by their host countries and neither side has fully integrated nor wants to integrate into their host countries. The Druze in Israel have mostly taken a different route and often times can be found in the highest units in the IDF as commanders.
With the Jihadists potentially creating an existential threat to the Druze of As Suwayda, Israel may have to act to create contiguity between the Golan and As Suwayda. This will have a double effect. Not only will it create a large buffer zone for the residents of the Golan and northern Galilee, but it will bolster the loyalty of the Druze in Israel knowing that the Jewish State would be willing to ultimately provide the protection to the Druze in Syria that they deserve.
In the coming days it will be clear how long Assad’s fall will take. No matter what, Israel has an opportunity to protect the Druze minority in Syria and permanently redraw the Middle Eastern boundaries, but it must act now.