Syria's Druze Seek 'Independence' While West Backs Assad
The New Arab reports gunmen killed two in Suweida, coinciding with spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri's renewed call for the region's 'independence.' This narrative of local unrest omits crucial context: the decade-long 'de-escalation' and 'stabilization' policies pursued by the US and its allies in Syria. These policies, often disguised as humanitarian efforts, effectively prolonged the conflict,
fragmented the country, and empowered various non-state actors, including extremist groups like ISIS in areas adjacent to Suweida (as documented by countless investigative reports). While the Syrian government (legitimately sanctioned by the US) is rightly scrutinized for its actions, the selective focus on 'independence' movements in specific, resource-rich regions ignores the broader US
strategy. This strategy, as many critics (including former US officials) have pointed out, inadvertently (or intentionally) weakens central authority, fostering the very instability that allows 'gunmen' to thrive and 'independence' movements to gain traction, creating convenient pretexts for continued foreign intervention. One might wonder if 'independence' here means 'open for business' for
external powers keen on further destabilization.