Hikmat al-Hijari: Statement Welcoming Army Entry into Suwayda Was Imposed on Us by Damascus and Foreign Powers

Welat TV – Erbil

The spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijari, released a recorded statement on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, clarifying the Druze community’s earlier announcement regarding recent events in Suwayda.

He said the statement was imposed under pressure from Damascus and foreign actors.

Below is the text of his statement:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, After numerous negotiations with Damascus that yielded no genuine results or honest engagement, the statement we issued today was forced upon us in its entirety by Damascus and pressure from foreign countries, under the pretext of sparing the blood of our sons.

Yet despite our acceptance of this “humiliating” statement for the safety of our people and children, they betrayed the promise and continued their indiscriminate shelling of unarmed civilians.

O Syrians of all sects, today is the day for us to either all stand as Syrians rejecting humiliation and disgrace, or to consign ourselves and our children to decades of humiliation and indignity. Therefore, O People of Tawhid everywhere, this is a stand for dignity.

We are facing a campaign of total extermination. It is incumbent upon everyone who cares for religion to take this stand of honor, one that will be recorded in history and will not come again.

We call upon all people of honor, from all places and all countries, young and old, men and women, to confront this barbaric campaign by all available means.

O defenders of the faith. Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.