DAMASCUS, SYRIA - JULY 31, 2025: Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa said Israel is working to divide Syria by supporting Druze leader Hikmet al-Hajri in Suwayda, aiming to create a canton-style administration in the country’s south. “Israel does not want the existence of a united and stable Syria. It continues its policy of keeping the country fragmented and unstable. Unfortunately, some internal parties also serve Israeli policies with narrow political calculations,” Mustafa told Anadolu in an interview. He said a recent ceasefire in Suwayda was achieved through mediation led by the US and several other countries. “Especially following Israeli attacks on Damascus, ground was created for seeking a political solution. The political solutions offered in Suwayda were those proposed by the state,” he said. Mustafa noted that the government had no intention to launch a military operation in Suwayda and instead held talks over the past six months with political and armed factions, including Hajri’s group. Concessions included permitting local youth to maintain order. He said rising tensions between Druze and Bedouin tribes forced the Damascus government to choose between intervening or remaining neutral. “In this context, the military intervention in Suwayda was not a planned operation,” he said. The ceasefire, Mustafa added, was not simply a written deal but based on mutual understanding. “The ceasefire can be seen in three stages. First, stopping the clashes and the withdrawal of security forces from the city center. The second stage involves removing tribal groups from the city and redeploying the state in rural areas. Finally, meeting basic needs, including fuel and food supply, as well as repairing communication and internet infrastructure. “Although elements affiliated with Hajri attempted to violate the ceasefire during the first days, the ceasefire stabilized by the second and third days,” he said. - Aid blockade claims rejected Mustafa said the state continues delivering humanitarian aid to Suwayda and does not act from a sectarian or communal perspective. “Hajri and similar groups try to shape their own narratives with separatist and narrow-minded approaches. They act as if they are responsible for delivering aid. While some difficulties occur in trade, humanitarian aid has never been cut off,” he said. He accused Hajri’s group of monopolizing aid to strengthen its influence. “Hajri endangers the future of Suwayda. Narratives like ‘aid siege’ are unacceptable to any genuine Syrian. By controlling state aid shipments, they use them to buy loyalty and punish opponents.” Rejecting accusations that the government has besieged Suwayda, Mustafa said: “We have already invited international organizations to the region, and aid is delivered under their coordination. The party completely blocking aid entry is the Hajri group. The 'siege' narrative is used for separatist and isolating political goals.” - Israeli Premier Netanyahu is ‘risking region’ Mustafa accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of destabilizing the region for personal political gain. “Netanyahu has relentlessly risked the region for his political future. The Gaza issue has brought Israel’s relations with its Western allies to the brink of a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “Israel does not view the existence of a new Syria positively. Therefore, it continues its policy of keeping Syria fragmented and unstable. Unfortunately, some internal parties also support these Israeli policies with narrow political calculations. Israel has never intervened to protect the Druze.” He said that while Israel claims to support some Druze groups in occupied Palestine, it generally pressures the community. “Israel tries to transfer its experience with the Druze in Palestine to Syria through these groups,” he added. Mustafa emphasized that most Syrian Druze remain aligned with Damascus. “They have always seen Israel as an occupier,” he said. - US role and political dialogue Mustafa said the US is concerned with Syria’s stability due to shared interests with Damascus regarding the ultimate defeat of the ISIS (Daesh) terror group and countering Iran’s influence. He said that Syria has always sought to preserve its sovereignty and acts based on mutual respect in all relationships. "The US role in Suwayda is to give support," he added. - 'Government has courage and ability to admit its mistakes' On reported violations during the clashes in Suwayda, Mustafa said most video footage did not show government forces but stressed the importance of accountability. “If violations by the government exist, it is very important that they be uncovered. Every Syrian citizen is valuable for the new Syria, and their loss is a loss for the country.” President Ahmed al-Sharaa has instructed the creation of a fact-finding commission to investigate the events. “The government has the courage and ability to admit its mistakes,” Mustafa said. He underlined the state’s support for press freedom. “Excluding the media or being selective during incidents may work short-term for some groups but is ineffective in the long run. As a government born from the people and serving the people, we believe in press freedom and accurate journalism. The media has documented the violations.” Mustafa said Syria is in a difficult transition and rebuilding its state institutions, including the military. “We know that social divisions breed hatred and hostility. That’s why we openly condemned the violations, called for accountability, and activated accountability mechanisms.” He warned of illegal efforts to create sectarian cantons. “This issue concerns not only the government but the entire Syrian people and is not negotiable. Throughout the revolution, the Syrian people have always preserved the country’s geographical and social unity.” “Separating Suwayda from Syria is impossible both historically and socially,” he added. - Northeast integration and SDF On meetings held in Paris with representatives of the SDF, which operates under the PKK/YPG, Mustafa said the talks aimed to enforce the March 10 agreement. “According to the March 10 agreement, phased steps were planned. The Syrian state fulfilled its obligations in the east of the Euphrates as it did in Suwayda,” he said. “The SDF currently claims to generally abide by the agreement, but no concrete progress has been made on the ground.” He acknowledged Türkiye’s long-standing support for Syria’s territorial integrity and its opposition to the SDF’s presence in the north. “This is not a temporary statement but a permanent position of the Turkish government. Therefore, there is a political opportunity for the SDF. Agreements should be made to guarantee its effective future participation in Syria. There are three main conditions: one country, one government, and one army.” While the SDF expresses goodwill, Mustafa said negotiations have yet to produce results. “Negotiations are ongoing, but there is no concrete progress.” - 'We must listen to reason' Mustafa said Syria must continue pursuing political solutions to overcome the consequences of conflict. “Today, we are struggling with the negative consequences of the social explosion. That’s why we must always turn to political solutions and listen to the voice of reason,” he said. He said Syria has a historic opportunity, gained through the people's struggle. “Syria will never be monopolized by a group, a color, or a sect. This is an absolute and indisputable fact,” he said. Mustafa concluded by emphasizing that a united Syria depends on politics, not force. “This issue is not just government policy, not just a minister’s strategy, nor is it only limited to international consensus. It directly concerns the existence of the Syrian people and the continuity of the country.”