Armed men in the city of Sweida, southern Syria, on July 19, 2025. (Credit: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
Almost every day, Oussama wakes up to the sound of drones and mortar fire, less than five kilometers from his home in Sweida. Along this "front line," clashes and skirmishes succeed one another. On one side, the Syrian government forces. On the other, the "National Guard," a militia created in August by Druze spiritual leader Hikmat el-Hijri, considered the most radical voice within the community.The "National Guard" says it wants to protect the current borders of the southern province, the stronghold of this religious minority. But Damascus, which has retained control over some thirty villages in a governorate that largely lies beyond its authority, does not intend to stop there, insists Oussama, who is firmly opposed to the one he calls "Jolani," a reference to the former nom de guerre of Syria’s...
Almost every day, Oussama wakes up to the sound of drones and mortar fire, less than five kilometers from his home in Sweida. Along this "front line," clashes and skirmishes succeed one another. On one side, the Syrian government forces. On the other, the "National Guard," a militia created in August by Druze spiritual leader Hikmat el-Hijri, considered the most radical voice within the community.The "National Guard" says it wants to protect the current borders of the southern province, the stronghold of this religious minority. But Damascus, which has retained control over some thirty villages in a governorate that largely lies beyond its authority, does not intend to stop there, insists Oussama, who is firmly opposed to the one he calls "Jolani," a reference to the former nom de guerre of...
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