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Violence takes over southern Syria

Intense fighting has gripped the city of Suwayda in southern Syria this week. It broke out between the new Syrian regime’s forces, armed groups of the Druze minority and other militias. 

And the Israeli terror state launched air strikes on Syria under the guise of protecting Druze people, who are a majority in Suwayda. 

Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Druze leaders agreed to a ceasefire on Thursday. 

Al-Sharaa’s armed Islamist group, HTS, overthrew the bloody Bashar al-Assad dictatorship in December.

But the new Syrian regime is relying on the same sectarian tactics that the old regime used to divide and rule the population. 

It is trying to bring different parts of Syria under its rule after more than a decade of civil war. And it’s pushing through unpopular neoliberal reforms such as mass sackings and privatisation that sparked working class protests. 

The new regime began attacking Druze people in the south in May—and had already targeted the Alawite minority. 

Syrian socialist Ghayath Naisse told Socialist Worker, “The regime of HTS demanded that the Alawites in the coastal regimes demilitarise. 

“Its objective was two-fold. First, it was revenge on the Alawites because the HTS sees minorities as enemies.

“Second, HTS wanted to erase anyone that would resist the HTS—and the Alawites were seen as a layover from the Assad regime.”

In March and April, this led to brutal massacres of Alawites with HTS forces killing over 1,600 people. 

Ghayath added, “HTS now wants to attack Druze in Suwayda because the regime is not in control of this region.”

As well as sowing sectarian divisions, Ghayath said that “HTS is surrendering to all of the imperialists’ demands”. 

Throughout the past months, Israel has been attacking and bombing Syria to destroy the military capacities of the old Assad regime.

“But HTS never condemned any of these actions and recently HTS  has been negotiating with Israeli officials,” he added. 

“Al-Sharaa thought he could attack Suwayda without any intervention from imperialist and regional powers because he is currently on good terms with Israel. 

“HTS thought it was a good time to attack because it is in a good position with Israel. 

“Al-Sharaa thought Israel would not intervene to protect the Druze, and HTS has given Israel many concessions.”

But Israel attacked HTS forces in the south as they were terrorising the Druze. Ghayath explained, “Israel is becoming the most powerful regional imperial power in Syria. It has agreements with HTS, but it can show again its military power. 

 

“In Israel there is an Arab-Druze community, who have a right to be in the Israeli army. There was some pressure from this minority for Israel to present itself as the saviour of the minorities, particularly the Druze. 

“So through the interest of Israel to confirm its supremacy in Syria, and the pressure of the Druze in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights, Israel intervened.”

Ghayath celebrated the downfall of Assad, but opposes the new regime and Israel’s warmongering. “Israel is not our saviour,” Ghayath said.

“It is not doing that for our benefit. It is doing this for its own interests in Syria, which are not the same as ours.” 

Ghayath said it was the “heroic resistance of people in Suwayda” that forced regime forces to withdraw on Thursday. “This act of resistance from the people of Syria is significant,” he explained. 

“HTS needs to know there is a limit to its powers to oppress minorities and repress political and democratic liberties in Syria.” 

He added, “It is the first victory of people in Syria against the HTS regime, so this matters. 

“Now, we have to see that this new regime cannot guide Syria to a better future. We have to organise all our forces—trade unions, women’s movements, minority groups—and coordinate all these struggles to unite them against this sectarian regime. 

“We have to unify the struggle with the people in Suwayda, across Syria and with the autonomous region in the north west of the country. 

“It must give us hope that we can resist HTS for liberty and equality in Syria.” 

Syria the downfall of a dictator. A Socialist Worker pamphlet. Buy it from our shop