Druze residents demonstrated in the Sweida Mount region of southern Syria this morning against the Damascus government, with some carrying Israeli flags under the slogan "Self-Defining." Concurrently, Al-Hijri militias reportedly broke into Druze religious centers in Ain al-Zaman and Sahwah al-Balat, assaulting Sheikhs Yusuf al-Jarboua and Hamoud al-Hanawi, and subsequently displayed Al-Hijri’s pictures with an Israeli flag above a building, according to local sources. Separately, internal security official Ahmed Al-Abdullah, known as "Abu Al-Mish" and affiliated with the Ministry of Defense, was arrested today while traveling from Deir Ezzour to Aleppo Governorate. Local sources of Furat Post indicated that "Abu Al-Mish" is under investigation for violations on the Syrian coast. This arrest follows the apprehension of two fighters involved in a killing at Suwayda hospital a few days prior, as reported by Gregory Waters. Reports from local sources also suggest that the Al-Hijri militias targeted Druze religious centers, physically assaulting prominent sheikhs. The presence of Israeli flags during the demonstration in Sweida Mount, coupled with the reported actions of the Al-Hijri militias, indicates a complex and volatile situation in southern Syria, with elements expressing a desire for independence and others allegedly aligning with Israel. One analysis from a Druze perspective, cited by رؤى لدراسات الØرب, suggests that the current situation favors independence, with the Druze community having "spent on the Damascus government." The sentiment expressed in the demonstration appears to align with this view, with participants thanking Netanyahu and indicating conditions for joining or expressing affinity towards Israel.
