Although the Syrian government has tried to make some amends for violations committed by its forces and supporters in the primarily Druze province of al-Suwayda’ during the summer, such as making efforts to bring back some kidnapped Druze and launching an investigation into the violations, these efforts are seen by many in the province as falling far too short at best. The norm among armed Druze factions in the province remains the rejectionist position towards the central government as articulated by Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri. Nominally, these factions have come together in the ‘National Guard’ initiative backed by Hijri, though the factional identities have not been completely shed.
Nominally, these factions have come together in the ‘National Guard’ initiative backed by Hijri, though the factional identities have not been completely shed.
Below is an interview conducted with Quwat Qalib al-Karama (“Well of Dignity Forces”), one of the constituent groups of the National Guard. Topics discussed include how positions towards the central government have evolved, Hijri’s apparent naming of Jabal al-Arab/Jabal al-Druze (‘Arab/Druze Mountain’, referring to al-Suwayda’), Druze identity and Israel’s role.
Q: Can you provide us a summary overview of Quwat Qalib al-Karama? Date of formation, position on the prior regime, the battles it participated in etc.
A: Quwat Qalib al-Karama was formed in 2018 after the Daesh [Islamic State] attack on the eastern villages of the province [of al-Suwayda’]. After we saw happened, we discovered that the regime had a hand in the matter and that there needed to be a coordinated force that should only be affiliated with the land it stands upon. Our position on the prior regime: since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, we had a neutral position in opposition to the killing, tyranny, criminal acts, arbitrary arrests, suppression of freedoms, and destruction of the Syrian society in all its components. But when the forces [Quwat Qalib al-Karama] were formed, the picture had become clear by then that this regime could not be reformed and its aim was to destroy everything.
We participated in all the battles that took place on the peripheries of the province, beginning with the battles of al-Shabaki and the eastern villages [2018] and the battle of al-Qurayya [in the west of the province] and then the recent battles that happened in al-Sura al-Kabira and al-Suwayda’. In all these battles, we were the owners of the land and the upholders of the truth, defending and not attacking. When we saw the Tatars enter our mountain and we saw how they killed and slaughtered and did not distinguish between a child being breastfed and an elderly man and women, it was our obligation to offer what is precious and dear in order to protect our land, honour and dignity, and repel these invaders that know neither religion nor religious profession.
In all these battles, we were the owners of the land and the upholders of the truth, defending and not attacking.
Quwat Qalib al-Karama has offered martyrs and wounded, and among the most prominent martyrs is one of the commanders who was distinguished for his work on the ground: the martyr Kinan Fawzat al-Jawhari, who was martyred in the battle of al-Kafr- Sahwat al-Balat, when an armoured vehicle was targeted by a treacherous mortar, as a result of which two martyrs perished, among them the martyr Kinan.
Q: What was Quwat Qalib al-Karama’s position on the demonstrations in al-Suwayda’ and Hikmat al-Hijri’s position at the time? I mean in 2023.
A: We were among those who participated, were present and support them in that period so that legitimate demands of the street could be realised under the leadership of Shaykh Abu Salman Hikmat al-Hijr. We conducted a number of visits to unify ranks against this tyrannical regime that considered us outlaws and terrorists because we demanded the simplest rights for our people. This regime subjected us to all kinds of violence including arrests and assassinations carried out by its arms.
Q: When the regime first fell what was your position on Ahmad al-Sharaa and the new government?
A: When the regime fell, it was like joy and victory for us and all Syrians, and at the same time, we had ambiguous feelings because we knew from the beginning that it was an international game and that the fall of a regime that had roots stretching back decades over the course of a few days and the arrival of this new government did not bode well. Soon enough, this new government beared its fangs several days after seizing rule and the state’s sectors. We became more certain that they wanted a Daeshi Islamic state during the events on the coast and what happened there made it clear to us that this government and regime do not represent the ambitions of the Syrian people and the Syrian revolution’s aspirations.
Q: What kind of state did you want? E.g. a decentralised state, secular state etc.
A: In the beginning we were striving for a secular state that would encompass all the components and groups of the Syrian people under the banner of ‘religion is for God and the homeland is for all’ [a saying of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash].
Q: And now? The aim is to establish an independent Druze state?
Our aim and the aim of our entire people in al-Suwayda’ is to separate. This is the only solution.
A: Now it is impossible to co-exist and for us to return to Syrian society after we saw what matters came to with the slaughter, harm and attempt to exterminate an entire sect because they declare us to be disbelievers per their religion and deem it legitimate to slaughter us. They have deemed themselves God’s trustees on the earth. Our aim and the aim of our entire people in al-Suwayda’ is to separate. This is the only solution. It is our right as a sect to live in peace and for our rights to be protected so we can safeguard our existence and save ourselves from extermination at the hands of this very Daeshi government.
Q: Do you consider yourselves Arabs at this point? For example I saw that Shaykh al-Hijri calls Jabal al-Arab ‘Jabal Bashan’ and this is arousing some controversy.
A: We consider ourselves Arabs and of the original inhabitants of this area. And what we have offered over the course of history in resisting invaders has not been offered by any other group in this region, but the treatment we were subjected to and the pronouncement of us as disbelievers has forced us to separate from all these terrorist groups. Jabal Bashan is an old name that has existed throughout history, and for those who don’t know, we have many companies, institutions and shops that bear this name, and it is not new for us. And we are among those who support this designation.
Q: So the naming of the mountain ‘Bashan’ is not an attempt to distance the Druze from the Arab identity?
A: No. We bear this identity and the Arabic language we speak is the greatest evidence of our origins.
Q: In your view why did Shaykh al-Hijri employ this name?
A: As I told you, this name has existed sicne ancient times and the use of this name by his eminence Shaykh Hikmat is not important. But the media machine that supports Jowlani’s government has exploited it as a tool for incitement against this mountain.
Q: Can you clarify the truth of reports about clashes between some of the National Guard’s factions in the days after an American visited al-Suwayda’?
We bear this identity and the Arabic language we speak is the greatest evidence of our origins.
A: No clashes happened regarding this matter. There were some disagreements in viewpoints and opinions and they were dealt with. Nothing took place along the lines of the reports circulated by the media machine and electronic flies affiliated with the Daeshi Jowlani government.
Q: Currently what is the news regarding opening a humanitarian crossing towards al-Suwayda’? It seems as though negotiations between Israel and al-Sharaa’s government failed because of this issue.
A: Regarding the humanitarian crossing we demand, it is one of our legitimate rights after the stranglehold and siege imposed on us by the current government, because the current situation in Jabal Bashan is below zero as we are deprived of our most basic humanitarian rights: no flower, gas, electricity, oil products or even medicine. Do these people not have the right to live with dignity? Do our children not have the right to live as the rest of the world do? They have been deprived of their most basic rights.
Q: Some may say that the humanitarian situation in al-Suwayda’ requires negotiation with the government so that a political solution can be reached, because the government has much leverage over al-Suwayda’ in terms of entry of goods like gas, gasoline and food goods. Thus an independent state cannot be established. What do you think of that?
A: First, negotiating with the present government is a figment of the imagination. Who brought forth their weapons, tanks, equipment and terrorist groups from among the Bedouin, tribes, foreigners, Tatars and Mongols and came to exterminate this peaceful people? It is not possible to negotiate with it and those who want to destroy your existence. How can we accept negotiation with it even in exchange for necessities of life? With regards to establishing an independent state, we will ask the free people of the world and all the lawyers of the world that we should have the right to live and we will not seek the mediation of these Dawaesh [Islamic State people] to remain alive, and we are prepared to offer what is precious and dear so we can realise our demand, which is the establishment of an independent state: the state of Bashan.
Q: What did you think of the campaign ‘al-Suwayda’ is part of us and in us’ [Syrian government fundraising campaign]?
A: There is no conciliation on bloodshed even with bloodshed. The campaign was a matter of theatrics as in the rest of the provinces, and we won’t be fooled again by their games. It was an attempt to conceal their crimes that cannot be concealed.
Q: Some supporters of the government say that the situation in Jaramana [a suburb of Damascus with a Druze population] is the solution for al-Suwayda’. They say that the Public Security is present there and recruits some of the people of Jaramana and imposes security and safety in Jaramana. What’s your response to that?
We are grateful to the state of Israel for its direct intervention to protect us at a time when all the Arab states supported the Jowlani government and were silent about the massacres that happened and were documented in our mountain.
A: The situation in Jaramana is completely different from al-Suwayda’. Even the Druze present in Jaramana and are not completely content, rather the plurality of Jaramana’s inhabitants- Druze exclusively- have left Jaramana because they know that any time these people might attack them and exterminate them and everyone knows that Israel is the one that imposed security for Jaramana and the Druze areas in Damascus, and not the goodwill of the Dawaesh government. This is our response to that, and this si the truth, and not as the government supporters claim.
Q: Finally what is your message to the al-Sharaa government and the international community?
A: Our message to the al-Sharaa government is the message of rifle and bullets. As for the international community, regrettably we have seen no condemnation or help with the exception of the Israelis and Americans who were the only ones to help prevent us from being definitively exterminated as planned by the Jowlani government. One should note that we as Quwat Qalib al-Karama, up to this point, have no direct contact or logistical support from any external party, and our arms and equipment are from our own money. We are grateful to the state of Israel for its direct intervention to protect us at a time when all the Arab states supported the Jowlani government and were silent about the massacres that happened and were documented in our mountain.
Originally published on November 24, 2025.
