Layth al-Balous, the son of Rijal al-Karama founder Wahid al-Balous and head of the ‘Dignity Guesthouse’ (Madhafat al-Karama), has finally issued his own official statement on the recent events in the primarily Druze province of al-Suwayda’ in southern Syria. Layth has generally been known to be supportive of engagement with the Syrian government, and when the Syrian government initially deployed military and security forces from outside the province, he reportedly welcomed those forces. As clashes broke out between those forces and local armed Druze groups, false rumours emerged that he had been killed by Druze fighters proclaiming loyalty to Hikmat al-Hijri (one of the three most senior Druze spiritual leaders in Syria).
The statement’s main points of note are as follows:
(i) An implicit criticism of Hijri and other Druze who sought or welcomed Israel’s assistance. While Israel is also not mentioned by name, Israel is clearly the country implied by the discourse about foreign agendas and hostile states seeking to divide Syria and tear apart the country’s social fabric. The statement distinguishes between those Druze who supposedly fought in service to Israel’s agenda and those Druze who fought in self-defence (thereby acknowledging, contrary to the constant suggestions of pro-government pundits, that it was not merely ‘Hijri’s militias’ who were fighting the government forces and then the armed tribesmen).
(ii) Declaring support for the broader notion of imposition of the state’s authority over al-Suwayda’, while also holding the state wholly responsible for violations committed against Druze civilians in al-Suwayda’.
(iii) An implicit criticism of Hijri as an obstacle to a broader resolution for the status of al-Suwayda’, with the claim that he has been stubborn in rejecting more pragmatic solutions and has sought to monopolise decision-making- and this obstinacy led to the deplorable outcome. The reason Hijri cannot be mentioned by name is that he is one of the mashayakh al-aql, and even Layth has to respect the need for his consensus to any final solution.
(iv) It is claimed that Hijri and other Druze religious authorities were informed in advance about the government’s intention to deploy military forces into al-Suwayda’, but that they did not inform the population of al-Suwayda’ of this intent.
(v) Confirmation that the Dignity Guesthouse and tomb of Layth’s father were vandalised. However, no perpetrator is explicitly identified (there are some unconfirmed claims elsewhere that followers of Hijri are responsible).
However, while supporters of the government frequently uphold Layth as ‘the good Druze’ and tout him as a future senior leader of the Druze community, he has likely lost a considerable amount of credibility among the Druze of al-Suwayda’, with many holding him responsible for bringing ‘terrorists’ into the province and thus enabling the violations committed against the Druze population.
Below is the statement fully translated by me.
In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
And prayers and peace be upon the master of those sent and all his family and companions. As for what follows:
In this critical stage that the beloved province of al-Suwayda’ is passing through, and amid a bloody, painful scene that befell innocent civilians- women, children and elderly- we can only ask for God’s mercy on the pure souls of the innocents, and we offer condolences to our family in every distressed household, asking God to protect what remains of Syrians’ blood.
We condemn in the harshest terms the violations and bloodshed that took place and we impute complete responsibility to all who strove to push the people of the Druze sect into foreign conflicts and projects whose aim is to tear apart the Syrian national fabric and realise the interests of hostile states that only see our people as a tool in a filthy game,
We affirm that dealing with the people of the noble sect does not have to be on a religious or sectarian basis, but rather a national basis. For they are an indivisible part of the authentic Syrian people: they have what the latter have, and incumbent upon them is what is incumbent upon the latter. We also commend the stance of a number of the notables and religious authorities of al-Suwayda’ who announced their support for the state and called for wise judgement and preventing bloodshed, rejecting the policy of incitement and monopolisation of control over the outcome.
We direct an address to all the people of Syria: we call on them to unify in force and position and we say to them: what is being contrived for al-Suwayda’ province is intended to be extended to other areas, so be one rank in the face of fitna and division.
We also tell the Syrian state that it must bear all its responsibilities and open an urgent investigation into the violations that befell the civilians, and work sincerely to prevent their repetition and ensure citizens’ peace and security.
We also call on the UN security council to adopt responsible resolutions in support of stability, standing alongside the Syrian state and its people in confronting the systematic projects of destruction.
We also value their patriotic inclusive stance which they declared in support of stability and standing in the face of those who seek to disrupt security and stability in the region.
We declare it clearly: for years and since the beginning of the fall of the criminal regime and until today, we have spared no effort to find solutions to protect the province and its people and prevent bloodshed, but all our initiatives have been met with rejection from a side that has decided to be stubborn and monopolise the sect’s decision-making, which has led us to this painful fate.
We also make clear to the public that the state’s military entry into some areas came after the religious authorities were notified of that, but these authorities didn’t tell anyone for reasons that remain obscure till now.
We clearly support the distinction the state adopts between those who have borne arms out of compulsion and in defence of their people in the circumstances of chaos, and those who did this to implement foreign agendas of sabotage.
We affirm that protecting civilians in all their components is the state’s responsibility alone, and that the patriotic forces in al-Suwayda’ were and remain a foundation stone in the ceasefire. We call for direct and serious coordination between these forces and the state in order to convey humanitarian aid and services, and speed up recovering and restoration of normal life.
The state, and we are with it, rejects the negative stereotyping of the people of the noble sect and affirms that it is a deep-rooted national component that contributed to building the state and was a partner in all the battles of sovereignty.
Therefore we call on our people in al-Suwayda’ to be true partners in implementing the ceasefire, protecting civilians and pushing for the wheel for the true political and patriotic solution.
In conclusion, we draw the attention of the Syrian state, the mashayakh al-aql and every living conscience in this homeland, to the attack, arson and theft that took place in the house and guesthouse of the martyr Shaykh Abu Fahad Wahid al-Balous, as well as what happened to his pure tomb: what happened at the hand of aggressive groups contravened all values of religion and humanitarianism, only representing aggressive, deplorable conduct that is considered a stab in the heart of the patriotic and spiritual dignity of the people of the mountain.
Peace be upon you with God’s mercy and blessings.
Published originally on July 19, 2025.
