LEBANON - JULY 18, 2025: The spiritual leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona, wants urgent Arab and Turkish sponsorship of comprehensive intra-Syrian talks to halt the escalating violence in Syria’s southern province of Suwayda and to prevent the country from further fragmentation. Abil-Mona emphasized that dialogue is the “only viable path to avoid further bloodshed and division” in Suwayda and Syria at large. He warned that local ceasefire agreements will remain fragile without firm guarantees from regional powers. “The recent agreement reached in Suwayda was a step forward,” he told Anadolu, “but its implementation requires Arab and Turkish guarantees, as there is a deep mistrust between the state and local factions.” - Fears of sectarian spillover into Lebanon The Druze leader expressed concern about the repercussions of the unrest in Suwayda on neighboring Lebanon, warning that some actors are trying to ignite sectarian tensions across the border. “There are troubling movements aimed at transferring this sedition into Lebanon,” he said, “and that raises serious fears about destabilizing our internal balance.” Abil-Mona said coordination is ongoing with religious authorities, especially Lebanon’s Dar al-Fatwa, to “uphold shared principles and reject inflammatory rhetoric that doesn’t reflect the position of official spiritual leaderships.” - Israel fuels crisis in Suwayda Abil-Mona pointed a finger at Israel, accusing Tel Aviv of seeking to fuel the crisis in Suwayda for strategic gains. “Israel is the primary beneficiary of what’s happening in Suwayda. It is using the security vacuum to incite divisions and push some communities toward seeking protection,” he said. “But this is not a local initiative, it’s an entirely Israeli project.” He warned against falling into the trap of foreign manipulation and stressed the importance of national dialogue. “We need to awaken reason and wisdom,” he said. “A Syrian-Syrian dialogue is overdue. The new state that has emerged after the fall of the former regime has yet to engage its people at the level needed.” He urged Türkiye to play an “active role in facilitating such a dialogue, ensuring the participation of all communities and helping rebuild trust in the political process.” - Druze role in Syria’s future Abil-Mona highlighted sacrifices by the Druze in the 14-year Syrian civil war, saying it has earned its place as equal partners in shaping Syria’s future. He also invoked the legacy of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, the historic Druze leader of the 1925 Great Syrian Revolt, who envisioned a unified Syria. “The continued clashes in Suwayda threaten to fragment the country. But the spiritual leaders of the Druze community in Syria do not want that. They want one land and one people, just as Sultan Pasha al-Atrash once envisioned when he called it ‘Jabal al-Arab,’ not ‘Jabal al-Druze,’” he said. - Clashes in Suwayda, Israeli attacks Fighting broke out June 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups in Suwayda. The violence escalated, leading to deadly attacks by Druze fighters on Syrian security forces deployed to the area. Dozens of soldiers were reportedly killed. A temporary ceasefire was reached between government forces and local Druze factions but that soon collapsed. Israeli airstrikes followed, targeting Syrian military positions and infrastructure. Israel has cited the “protection of Druze communities” as a pretext for its attacks in Syria, especially in the south. But most Druze leaders in Syria have publicly rejected any foreign interference and reaffirmed their commitment to a unified Syrian state. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel intensified its air campaign in Syria and declared a buffer zone between the two countries defunct, alongside the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in Syria in January.