-
Statement by Ahmad Al-Sharae Regarding the Situation in Sweida
The head of the Syrian transitional phase, Ahmad Al-Sharae, stated that the Israeli entity attempted to undermine efforts to maintain security in Sweida Governorate, had it not been for effective mediation by the United States, Arab countries, and Turkey. Al-Sharae affirmed that they do not fear war, but they prioritize the interests of the people over chaos.
Al-Sharae’s remarks come after a recorded speech he made early Thursday, following the announcement of a ceasefire in Sweida, which was entered by Syrian army and security forces to restore stability following clashes between Bedouin and Druze factions that resulted in dozens of deaths.
On the same day, the Israeli army launched a major attack on Syria, targeting over 160 sites across four governorates: Sweida, Daraa, Rural Damascus, and Damascus. The attack included strikes on the headquarters of the General Staff and around the Presidential Palace, resulting in the death of three people and injuries to 34 in Damascus.
Commenting on the aggression, Al-Sharae emphasized that the Syrian people have achieved great victories through their sacrifices for freedom and dignity. He stated that they are today standing in a national battle to protect the unity and stability of Syria against Israeli attempts to sow discord and divide the country.
He pointed out that Israel has been seeking chaos and strife since the fall of the previous regime, and expressed concern about some parties exploiting these circumstances to weaken Syrian unity. He reaffirmed that despite a long history of rejecting divisions, Syrians are capable of overcoming attempts to divide them.
Al-Sharae stressed that possessing strength does not always guarantee victory, and winning one battle does not ensure success in another. He noted that controlling the outcomes of war is complex, but assured that Syria will always be stronger than to be shaken by fabricated discord.
Regarding schemes of fragmentation, he confirmed that Syria is not a playground for external conspiracies, and that it will not allow any foreign party to exploit the blood of its people for its own interests.
Concerning the Druze community, Al-Sharae said they are an integral part of Syrian society, and that Syria will never be a place for division or planting discord among its people. He emphasized that protecting their rights and freedoms is a priority, and any plan to drag them into external or internal conflict is rejected.
He addressed military interventions within Sweida, clarifying that the state intervened swiftly and within the efforts of its security agencies to restore stability, despite Israeli interventions which he considered attempts to complicate the situation and escalate tensions.
Al-Sharae pointed out that American, Arab, and Turkish mediation played an important role in saving the region from the unknown, preventing the option of open war with Israel, which would have been at the expense of the people of Sweida and Syria’s security. Instead, support was given to tribal sheikhs and elders to reinforce national unity.
He pledged to hold accountable those who exceeded limits or insulted the people of Sweida, affirming that the state remains committed to protecting rights. He emphasized that justice law safeguards everyone’s rights and that maintaining Syria’s unity and stability is the highest goal on the path toward recovery and reconstruction.
