arabic → English transcript

Almost 90% of the people of As-Suwayda are attached to their homeland, Syria, and are directly connected to Damascus.

And they have expressed that desire; I have met more than six delegations from As-Suwayda itself over the past six months.

With diverse ideas, including the Druze religious leadership, Druze academics, and women’s groups as well.

The recent incident created major sectarian incitement by some parties and intimidation by the current authorities,

and of possible conflicts that could occur around As-Suwayda.

The recent incident made people somewhat afraid, and it gave rise to a kind of suspicion and fear regarding what happened.

I mean, there were some violations; of course, the mutual violations were not only by the Bedouin against the Druze, either.

The Druze also committed many violations against the Bedouin, and all of this is documented.

And some members of the security services and the army in Syria also committed some violations.

We mention them for the sake of honesty, so that we can be fully transparent in solving our problems.

So, in the first phase, the Syrian policy toward As-Suwayda was to de-escalate the situation that occurred in the rear.

A complete ceasefire, and the state sent a force to stand between all parties.

Work on returning the people who were displaced from their villages and uprooted from their areas quickly and effectively.

Also work on sponsoring a broad social reconciliation between the Bedouin and the Druze.

Then, gradually, we discuss the other issues regarding the return of institutions.

Of course, relief as well, and all assistance must be provided to As-Suwayda.

We carried this out in earnest during the past period.

Also remaining is the mechanism for the return of state institutions and linking what happened.

While taking into account the scale of the disaster that occurred in As-Suwayda during the past period.

So things are moving within this framework.

I do not want to go into much detail about what will be in the future.

But any idea, in any way, of partition

the continued presence of uncontrolled weapons

I believe this is outside the state's policy.

And also, for the violations that occurred, the state is obliged to hold accountable.

All those who committed these violations, from all the parties involved

Justice must also take its course

And in terms of security, it was also something of a real test

for the state's recent circumstances

There were also many indications

They were, in a way, an analysis of the situation

But it proved to be true

And it became clear that Israel was intervening directly in As-Suwayda

trying to pursue policies, among them the weakening of the state as a whole

or an attempt to fabricate a pretext

to interfere in the existing policies in the southern region

We are managing this situation

We are addressing it

We always try to keep the losses to a minimum

as we are accustomed to in addressing our problems

and also in ways that are outside the box

Not the way people expect