This came in a statement issued by the Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria on its official Telegram channel, in the name of the "Sheikhdom of the Druze Unitarian Community, and the community's authorities, dignitaries, and members."
The Druze leaders said in their statement: "We affirm our firm national positions, inherited from our ancestors from the pure milk of our mothers. We are an integral part of the unified Syrian homeland. Our homeland is our honor, our Syria is our dignity, and love of the homeland is part of faith. We reject division, separation, or secession."
They added: "We affirm our commitment to a homeland that includes all Syrians, a homeland free of the disastrous consequences of sedition and the ill-omened sparks of it, free of sectarian strife, personal grudges, blood feuds, and the fanaticism of pre-Islamic times, which the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, removed from us and which Islam has eradicated."
They called for "activating the role of the Ministry of Interior and the judicial police in Sweida province from the province's own people," considering that "securing the Sweida-Damascus road is the state's responsibility," and demanded "the extension of security and safety across Syrian territory."
The statement comes after security tensions erupted in the Ashrafieh Sahnaya and Jaramana areas of Rif Dimashq province on Tuesday and Wednesday, following the deaths of 16 people, including civilians and security personnel, in attacks carried out by "outlaw groups." The violence erupted after an audio recording attributed to a Druze member of the community was circulated, allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
According to official sources, security forces, in coordination with Druze community leaders, were able to restore calm in the two areas, which are densely populated by Druze residents, following civilian and security casualties in attacks launched by "outlaw" armed groups seeking to "sow chaos and create strife."
The General Security Directorate in Rural Damascus announced Wednesday evening the end of the security operation in Sahnaya, the conclusion of a "preliminary agreement" for a ceasefire in Jaramana and Ashrafieh Sahnaya, and the formation of a joint committee to resolve the security tensions in the two areas.
The statement also follows the stance of Druze leader in Israel, Muwaffaq Tarif, who attempted to preempt a meeting of Druze sheikhs, leaders, and dignitaries with representatives of the Syrian government by issuing a statement describing the situation as "complex and intricate."
In his statement, Tarif used a provocative tone, calling for intervention in Syria's affairs, calling on "the international community and all human rights organizations to take immediate action without delay to stop what is happening in Syria before it's too late."
Agreement to surrender weapons
Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian government announced it had reached an agreement with the residents of Jaramana, a town in the Damascus countryside, to enhance security and hand over weapons to the state, according to a statement published by the Damascus Countryside Governorate on its official Telegram channel.
Commenting on this, Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party, whose supporters are largely Druze, thanked "all those who contributed to reaching this agreement on Thursday. We hope that all concerned parties will adhere to it in order to restore calm and stability to the region."
Following the security tensions in the Damascus countryside, Israeli political and military incitement campaigns against the new Syrian administration escalated significantly on Thursday, in a continued, blatant violation of the Arab country's sovereignty.
Claiming to be defending Druze rights in Syria, Israel launched airstrikes on Wednesday on the outskirts of the Ashrafieh Sahnaya area, killing Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
These developments come amid escalating warnings about Israel's attempts to exploit the Druze to impose its intervention in Syria, even as Damascus asserts that all components of the population are equal in rights.
Although the new Syrian administration, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has not threatened Israel in any way, Tel Aviv has been launching airstrikes on Syria on an almost daily basis for months, killing civilians and destroying Syrian military sites, vehicles, and ammunition.
