The assassination of Murhij al-Jarmani, the commander of a local faction in Suwayda and a strong supporter of the ongoing protests, could be a turning point for the Druze-majority province’s nearly year-long uprising. The Assad regime is accused of orchestrating the killing.
When Suwayda’s protest movement began in August 2023, it met with echoes on the Syrian coast, where “a chorus of individual voices” openly criticized the regime from a region considered Assad’s base. But while Suwayda’s uprising continues, the voice of the coast has waned. Why?
After years of violations, HTS aims to adopt a new policy of openness towards Idlib’s minorities, returning some seized properties and encouraging Christians and Druze to return. Still, discrimination persists and the hardline group has not compensated property owners for years of losses.
Damascus continues to outwardly ignore Suwayda’s uprising—the longest, most organized and widespread protests in the southern province’s recent history—while demonstrators believe their movement can hold strong.
Recent economic moves by Damascus impacted the cost of most basic goods and services, sparking a wave of protests in the country’s south and anger all the way to the coast.
In Suwayda, some view tensions between the Men of Dignity and Laith al-Balous—the son of the Druze faction’s assassinated founder—as part of an attempt by the son to lead in his father’s footsteps.
While Suwayda factions continue their campaign against military security-linked groups, Damascus launches a new settlement process in the Druze-majority province.
Following the ousting of the military security-linked Falhout group in Suwayda province last week, operations against other Damascus-linked militias are cautiously moving forward.
A militia in Suwayda province linked to Syrian military intelligence was eliminated this week after local Druze groups attacked and took control of its headquarters. What happened, and what might the future hold?
