Al Sharaa: Syria not afraid of war, ready to defend its dignity

Syrian interim President Ahmed Al Sharaa has declared that the Syrian people are not afraid of war and are ready to fight for their dignity.

“We are not among those who fear war. We have spent our lives facing hardship and defending our people, but we have placed the interests of Syrians above chaos and destruction,” Al-Sharaa stated, Caliber.Az reports, citing Syrian media.

The Syrian president noted that Israel seeks to turn his country into a zone of conflict — a goal that must not be allowed to succeed. He described the Druze community as an integral part of Syria and condemned Israel’s actions that, in his view, sow division.

“We reject all attempts — whether foreign or domestic — to create division among us. We are all partners on this land, and we will not allow any group to distort the beautiful image of Syria and its diversity,” he said.

Al-Sharaa emphasised that protecting the rights and freedoms of the Druze community is “one of our top priorities” during the transitional period.

“We have placed responsibility for maintaining security in (al-Suwayda) on local groups and Druze religious leaders, recognising the seriousness of the situation and the need to avoid dragging the country into a new war,” he added.

Nevertheless, he stressed, the Syrian people are prepared to fight if their dignity is threatened.

On 11–13 July, intense clashes erupted near As‑Suwayda between Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin groups following the kidnapping of a Druze trader. Syrian government forces entered the fray, but the intervention exacerbated tensions, leading to civilian casualties and reports of rights violations against Druze civilians

A ceasefire brokered around 15–16 July, agreed between the Syrian Interior Ministry and local Druze leaders, led to government forces beginning their withdrawal from Suwayda. However, some influential Druze figures rejected the ceasefire, and sporadic fighting persisted even after official announcements.

Israel launched airstrikes on areas near Suwayda and in Damascus on 15–16 July, targeting military convoys, the Defence Ministry, the General Staff HQ, and near the presidential palace. Tel Aviv justified the strikes as efforts to protect the Druze minority and prevent Islamist forces from establishing a presence near the Golan Heights 

By Khagan Isayev