Since the July 2025 clashes between government forces, Bedouin tribes, and Druze militias, the Syrian governate of Suwayda has largely been outside state control. Instead being run by the National Guard, an militia led by Hikmat al-Hijri. From [earlier reporting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/23/israel-covert-activities-syria-druze/), we know that arming Hijri has been an integral part of Israeli policy towards Syria since the moment the Assad regime fell, as a means of keeping the country weak and splintered.
Since he gained de facto control, Suwayda has seen severe repression (some of which the article goes over), and more consequently, has become an epicenter of Captagon smuggling. While Israel has fiercely prevented Damascus from moving against Hijiri, it seems that its Arab neighbors are running out of patience. As Jordan conduced several airstrikes in Suwayda earlier this year, in coordination with Syrian intellegence. Israel of course does not have the same freedom to bully Amman.
This article is relevant to r/neoliberal because it as an extensive overview of how networks of repression and drug smuggling in Suwayda are organized, including information about the many former Assad-era officials that have found sanctuary in the governate. This is relevant to the question of how western states should organize their foreign policies toward the region.
Israel has no business in meddling in Syrian affairs. Al Sharaa has not threatened Israel at all. This is just generating future problems down the road.
Golda_M on
I don’t know about the main claims of this article but the description and characterization of the hostilities leading to the current dynamic… are not honestly told.
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**Starter comment**
Since the July 2025 clashes between government forces, Bedouin tribes, and Druze militias, the Syrian governate of Suwayda has largely been outside state control. Instead being run by the National Guard, an militia led by Hikmat al-Hijri. From [earlier reporting](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/23/israel-covert-activities-syria-druze/), we know that arming Hijri has been an integral part of Israeli policy towards Syria since the moment the Assad regime fell, as a means of keeping the country weak and splintered.
Since he gained de facto control, Suwayda has seen severe repression (some of which the article goes over), and more consequently, has become an epicenter of Captagon smuggling. While Israel has fiercely prevented Damascus from moving against Hijiri, it seems that its Arab neighbors are running out of patience. As Jordan conduced several airstrikes in Suwayda earlier this year, in coordination with Syrian intellegence. Israel of course does not have the same freedom to bully Amman.
This article is relevant to r/neoliberal because it as an extensive overview of how networks of repression and drug smuggling in Suwayda are organized, including information about the many former Assad-era officials that have found sanctuary in the governate. This is relevant to the question of how western states should organize their foreign policies toward the region.
Between this, the enabling of atrocities in the West Bank, the [razing of Lebanese villages during the “ceasefire”](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/lebanon/ceasefire-israeli-forces-ramp-destruction-homes-southern-lebanon-rcna342549) and the secret bases in Iraq, the Israeli gov and IDF are very terrible actors right now.
Israel has no business in meddling in Syrian affairs. Al Sharaa has not threatened Israel at all. This is just generating future problems down the road.
I don’t know about the main claims of this article but the description and characterization of the hostilities leading to the current dynamic… are not honestly told.
That makes me suspicious of further bias.
Any other sources on some of these claims?