US envoy signals Washington supports Syrian control of Suwayda over Israeli-linked Druze leader

US special envoy Tom Barrack stated on Friday that Washington favors Syrian government control over the southern governorate of Suwayda. He made the remarks during a conversation with Mario Nawfal, an Australian social media figure, on the X platform. Barrack identified the key obstacle as a specific Druze sheikh, widely understood to be Hikmat al-Hijri, who leads the National Guard.

Three key factors define the current standoff in the region. First, the United States has prioritized a diplomatic relationship with Damascus under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This approach contrasts with Israel’s strategy, which supports al-Hijri’s group to maintain leverage in southern Syria. Second, the National Guard is accused of receiving support from Israel, leading Syrian officials to view the group as a proxy for separatist ambitions. Third, a trilateral agreement signed in Amman in September 2025 mandates an independent international commission to investigate deadly sectarian fighting that occurred in July 2025.

Navvar Saban, a security researcher at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, noted that Barrack’s message was clear. He explained that Israel’s backing of al-Hijri does not equate to American support. Saban argued that Washington has chosen to prioritize an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands. Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst who visited the region in September, added that the US is building a partner in Damascus. She observed that Israel appears to prefer a government in Damascus that is too weak to assert authority in the south.

The divergence in policy stems from the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Since then, the US has slowly rebuilt relations with the new leadership. Israel, however, invaded Syria in the days immediately following Assad’s fall. Israeli forces seized land in Quneitra governorate and other strategic areas. They have also bombed the Ministry of Defence and arrested Syrians in the south. These actions have drawn criticism from Syrian officials who cite repeated incursions.

Barrack, who serves as the US ambassador to Turkiye and a special envoy to Syria and Iraq, has a reputation for direct diplomacy. His recent comments align with the Trump administration’s view that instability in Syria is dangerous for a country rebuilding after 13 years of war. The US President has built a strong relationship with al-Sharaa and views the current stalemate in Suwayda as a threat to that stability.

Residents of Suwayda remain in a state of deadlock following the July 2025 conflict between Bedouin tribes and Druze. The fighting resulted in significant Druze casualties and deepened mistrust toward the central government. Israel intervened during that fighting by attacking Syrian government forces entering the province. Since then, Israel has sought to build favor with local figures like al-Hijri, who opposes the new leadership in Damascus. Analysts say al-Hijri’s support is not universal but grows when the Druze community feels under attack. A durable settlement requires credible accountability for the 2025 events and guarantees of protection for movement, education, and security in the region.