US envoy puts Washington behind Damascus in Suwayda standoff

US special envoy Tom Barrack signaled that Washington prefers Syrian government control over the Druze-majority governorate of Suwayda, a stance that appears to diverge from Israel’s regional approach.

Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkiye, made the remarks during a conversation on Friday with Australian X personality Mario Nawfal. He referred to a specific Druze sheikh, widely identified as Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent political and religious figure in the south. The National Guard, an armed group linked to al-Hijri, has faced accusations of receiving support from Israel while pursuing separatist goals. Barrack’s comments were interpreted as a direct message to Israel, which has frequently clashed with the Syrian government and sought to build ties with local Druze factions.

Navvar Saban, a security researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, stated that the diplomatic signal was unambiguous. He noted that Israeli backing for al-Hijri does not equate to American support. According to Saban, Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus, whereas Israel continues to maintain its own security demands and relationships in the region.

The tension reflects a wider gap between the two governments since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. President Donald Trump has cultivated a strong relationship with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, viewing stability as essential for a nation rebuilding after 13 years of war. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a harder line, seizing land in Quneitra governorate and other strategic areas immediately after the Assad regime collapsed. Israel has also bombed the Syrian Ministry of Defence and detained Syrians in the south, actions that have drawn sharp criticism from Damascus.

Suwayda has remained in a state of deadlock since deadly sectarian fighting erupted between Bedouin tribes and Druze residents in July 2025. The conflict left predominantly Druze casualties and eroded local trust in the new central government. Although a trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 called for an independent investigation into the violence, the province remains in a stalemate. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst, observed that Israel appears to use Suwayda as a lever against Damascus, offering enough support to keep the province reliant on Israeli protection without securing its long-term future.

Residents in Suwayda continue to feel the effects of this political standoff in daily life, from salary delays to disruptions in local education. Saban emphasized that a durable settlement requires credible accountability for the events of 2025. He added that the Druze community needs guarantees regarding movement, education, and security, noting that neither weakening al-Hijri nor restoring government institutions alone will rebuild the necessary trust.