The head of the Syrian regime, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, affirmed that the Druze are an integral part of Syria’s social fabric and that protecting their rights and freedoms is a government priority. He stated that Syria will not be a place for division, fragmentation, or the sowing of discord among its citizens.

In a televised address early Thursday morning following violent incidents in As-Suwayda province in southern Syria, al-Julani said, “The Syrian state intervened with full determination and resolve to stop the internal fighting in As-Suwayda.”

He added, “We assure our Druze community that protecting your rights and freedom is a top priority, and we reject any attempts to drag you into foreign agendas.”

In his speech, al-Sharaa emphasized, “I especially address our Druze community, who are an authentic part of the fabric of this nation. Syria will never be a place for division or fragmentation or for stirring sedition among its sons. We assure you that protecting your rights and freedoms is a priority, and we reject any attempt to lure you into foreign influence or create internal division. We are all partners in this land, and we will not allow any group to tarnish the beautiful image that reflects Syria and its diversity.”

Al-Julani continued: “What we need now is for all of us to be partners in rebuilding, working hand in hand to overcome all challenges. The Syrian state intervened decisively to halt the internal fighting in As-Suwayda.”

He elaborated: “The Syrian state, through all its institutions and leadership, intervened with full determination and resolve to stop the internal fighting in As-Suwayda between armed groups from within and nearby regions due to longstanding disputes. Instead of helping calm the situation, lawless groups accustomed to chaos and sedition emerged. These gang leaders are the same individuals who have rejected dialogue for months, prioritizing personal interests over national unity.”

? U.S., Arab, and Turkish mediation

He stressed that the state's efforts succeeded in restoring stability and expelling lawless factions despite Israeli interventions. He added, “The Israeli entity launched extensive strikes on civilian and government facilities to undermine these efforts, worsening the situation and pushing it toward broader escalation—if not for effective mediation by the U.S., Arab, and Turkish parties that saved the region from an unknown fate.”

He continued: “We faced two options—an open war with Israel at the cost of our Druze people’s safety and national stability or allowing Druze elders and spiritual leaders to prioritize the national interest and reject those who try to defame the honorable people of the mountain.”

Al-Julani concluded, “We are not afraid of war; we’ve spent our lives confronting challenges and defending our people. But we prioritized Syrian interests over chaos and destruction. The best decision at this stage was to take precise measures to protect national unity and the safety of our citizens based on the highest national interest.”

He revealed that local factions and Druze religious elders were assigned responsibility for maintaining security in As-Suwayda, stating, “This decision stems from our deep awareness of the danger posed to our national unity and the need to avoid sliding into a new, broad war that would distract us from Syria’s recovery and deepen the political and economic challenges left by the former regime.”