US Envoy Signals Divergence with Israel on Syria's Suwayda Amidst Diplomatic Maneuvers

United States special envoy Tom Barrack recently engaged in a conversation with a prominent X personality, discussing the complex situation in Syria, with a particular focus on Suwayda. This southern governorate, predominantly inhabited by the Druze community, has become a focal point of tension between the Syrian government and Israel. Suwayda is one of the few remaining areas in the country where the Syrian government lacks complete authority.

Barrack made reference to a specific Druze sheikh, widely believed to be Hikmat al-Hijri, a significant political and religious leader in Suwayda. The National Guard, an armed Druze group associated with al-Hijri, has faced accusations of receiving support from Israel, with alleged separatist ambitions. Barrack’s comments regarding al-Hijri are interpreted by many as a direct message to Israel, which has previously conducted attacks on Syrian ministries and military personnel and has sought to gain influence within Syria’s Druze community. The National Guard has been implicated as acting as a proxy for Israel.

US President Donald Trump has cultivated a strong relationship with his counterpart in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and views any instability in Syria as a threat to the nation's efforts to rebuild after 13 years of conflict. Navvar Saban, a researcher specializing in security and military affairs at the Arab Center for Contemporary Syrian Studies, told Al Jazeera that Barrack’s message was unequivocal: "Israel backing [al-Hijri] does not equal American backing. Washington has prioritized an agreement with Damascus while Israel retains its own security demands and relationship."

Divergent Views on Syria

Since the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024, the US has been gradually restoring relations with Damascus and its new leadership. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has received substantial US backing for his operations in Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran, holds a significantly different perspective on the new Syrian government compared to President Trump.

In the immediate aftermath of the fall of the al-Assad regime, Israel launched an invasion of Syria, seizing territory in the Quneitra governorate and other strategically vital regions. Israel has issued threats against President al-Sharaa’s government in Damascus, conducted airstrikes on the Ministry of Defence, and engaged in harassment and arrests of Syrians in southern Syria. These repeated incursions by Israel have drawn strong condemnation from Syrian officials.

Barrack, a close confidant of President Trump, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkiye and a special envoy for Syria and Iraq, has established a reputation for his direct diplomatic approach, occasionally disregarding conventional caution. This was exemplified by his past remarks labeling some members of the Lebanese media as “animalistic.” On Friday, Barrack spoke with Australian X personality Mario Nawfal, addressing the situation in southern Syria. He appeared to suggest that Washington favors Damascus asserting control over Suwayda, rather than a group aligned with al-Hijri and linked to Israel.

Nanar Hawach, a Syrian analyst who visited Suwayda in September, commented to Al Jazeera that Barrack’s remarks highlight the differences with Israel. "Washington is building a partner in Damascus while Israel appears to prefer a Damascus that is too weak to assert itself in the south."

Israel and al-Hijri

Residents of Suwayda, including a significant portion of the Druze majority, grew dissatisfied with their deteriorating living conditions and initiated protests against the al-Assad regime in 2023. These demonstrations continued until the regime's collapse in December 2024. While many in Suwayda welcomed the end of over five decades of Baathist rule, they remained hesitant to fully endorse the new government. This hesitation evolved into open opposition to al-Sharaa following deadly sectarian clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze in Suwayda in July 2025, with forces reportedly connected to the government joining the Bedouin side.

Despite casualties on both sides, the Druze community bore the brunt of the violence. Israel intervened at one point, targeting what it claimed were Syrian government forces entering Suwayda. Since then, Israel has reportedly been attempting to cultivate favor with local elements, including al-Hijri, who has been a vocal opponent of Damascus's new leadership.

Hawach observed, "Israel appears intent on a lasting military presence in southern Syria, and it uses Suwayda as a lever against Damascus, offering enough support to keep the province reliant on Israeli protection and too little to secure its future." She further noted that Israel treats neighboring communities differently along its lines in Quneitra and Daraa, exacerbating historical grievances among Syrians that could complicate any future Syria-Israel arrangement.

In Suwayda, analysts indicate that al-Hijri’s support is not unanimous but strengthens when the Druze community perceives a threat. "Sheikh al-Hijri’s authority rises with the community’s sense of threat and opens to debate as that threat recedes, so pressure from Damascus tends to strengthen the leadership it aims to weaken," Hawach explained. "Each side points to the other’s hard line to justify its own. That keeps Suwayda’s future framed in security terms and crowds out the many residents, clerics and local figures seeking a path between central rule and separation."

Accountability Needed for Reconciliation

Following the events of July 2025, the US initiated discussions with the Syrian government, hosted by Jordan, to address the crisis. A trilateral agreement was signed in Amman in September 2025, stipulating that Syria would invite an independent international commission to investigate the events in Suwayda and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

While major hostilities have not resumed between Damascus and Druze factions, the situation in Suwayda remains in a stalemate, with many residents lacking confidence in the government. "Distrust has hardened, partly because Damascus has sought to bring Suwayda back by pressuring its leadership, and residents feel that pressure first, in their salaries, their children’s exams and the road to the capital," Hawach stated. "Trust tends to return through what the state delivers. Damascus stands a better chance of winning people back by serving residents directly and pursuing accountability for July 2025."

Analysts emphasize that accountability is paramount for Damascus to reintegrate Suwayda into Syria. "A durable settlement needs credible accountability for what happened in 2025," Saban concluded. "The Druze need to be guaranteed protection of movement, education and security. Neither weakening Hijri, nor restoring government institutions alone will rebuild the trust."