Syrian Druze leader publicly aligns community with Israel, deepening rift with Damascus

Sheikh al-Aql Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze leader in Suwayda, publicly characterized his community as an integral part of Israel, citing shared doctrinal values and admiration for Israeli state-building. This rhetoric represents a significant escalation in the internal Syrian political divide, signaling a potential shift in regional loyalties that challenges the Assad regime's authority in the Druze-majority province.