Druze Religious Leader Warns of Sectarian “Genocide” in Syria, Cautions Threat Could Spread to Kurdish Areas

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Tawfiq al-Hijri, Deputy Head of the Foreign Relations Office of the Spiritual Presidency of the Druze Community in Syria, issued a dire warning in an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24, accusing Syrian government forces and extremist factions of carrying out a campaign aimed at the annihilation of minorities, particularly the Druze. He also warned that similar violence may extend into Kurdish regions of Syria if left unaddressed. 

No Truce With the Government, Total Withdrawal Demanded

Al-Hijri, the nephew of Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the three spiritual head of the Druze community in Syria, strongly rejected any claims of reconciliation with Damascus. He declared that “there is no agreement with the authorities” and emphasized the demand for a full withdrawal of both the Syrian army and all armed factions from Suwayda province. “They killed everything—civilians, fighters, even wildlife. They burned trees, destroyed statues,” he said.

According to al-Hijri, the so-called ceasefire was only a façade. “They entered under the pretext of peace, but unleashed indiscriminate violence.”

Sectarian Purge Accusations and Spread of Radical Ideologies

Al-Hijri accused jihadist elements within the state of planning a systematic purge of minority communities. “What we’re facing is nothing short of genocide,” he said. “Their ideology cannot be changed. They seek to subjugate or eliminate all minorities—starting with Alawites and Druze, and targeting Kurds next.”

He noted that extremist narratives were spreading rapidly through media and public demonstrations, inciting hatred against minorities. “It’s a Salafi-jihadist ideology,” he warned, describing the perpetrators as bent on “ethnic cleansing” and compared the current events to the horrors of Nazism.

Kurdish Areas at Risk: Warning of Repeat Scenarios in Rojava

Following the violence in Suwayda, concerns are growing that similar scenarios may unfold in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria (Western Kurdistan). Tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Damascus remain unresolved, and local officials have reiterated that they are prepared to defend themselves against any aggression.

Al-Hijri confirmed this threat: “Yes, absolutely. What is happening is being replicated through incitement and indoctrination. Minorities are being demonized, and the Kurds are being openly targeted.”

Israeli Druze and International Support: “We Are One Family”

Addressing the role of the Druze in Israel and the broader region, al-Hijri stated, “We are one family. Wherever the conflict escalates, Druze communities stand together.” He expressed gratitude for international support, particularly the early mediation efforts by the U.S. administration. “The support helped us remain steadfast in the face of a large-scale assault.”

Call for International Intervention and Full Military Withdrawal

Al-Hijri called for the complete removal of Syrian and affiliated armed forces from Suwayda, urging international actors to ensure enforcement. “We are being subjected to genocide. This is not a political conflict. It’s not a clash between two local parties—it’s a targeted campaign for annihilation.”

He strongly criticized narratives suggesting internal factional disputes, labeling them as “propaganda designed to mask the real agenda: extermination.”

A Crisis Beyond Politics: Existential Threat to a Community

“There is no state,” al-Hijri concluded. “What we’re witnessing is a jihadist authority, not a government seeking peace. They want total eradication—no security, no compromise. This is not internal strife. It is a centralized plan to wipe out the Druze community.”