Israeli official: Suwayda separation underway

By Qais al- Abdullah

SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Residents in Suwayda province in southern Syria staged a protest on Wednesday in the town’s central Karama Square, calling for a return to their homes and accountability for officials they accuse of involvement in recent incidents. Witnesses at the scene confirmed the gathering involved dozens of residents holding placards and chanting slogans demanding justice.

Earlier the same day, Israeli National Security Council advisor Anan Wahbi told i24news that, in his assessment, a process of separation of Suwayda from Syria “has begun.” Wahbi compared the process to Lebanon’s phased independence, suggesting that local Druze leaders seek territorial self-determination following recent violent events in southern Syria.

Wahbi also stated, “I believe Suwayda has entered the first phase. After the brutal strike in southern Syria, all local leaders in the region realized that Syria will not return to what it once was. The Druze in Suwayda understood they must at least govern their own areas and protect themselves, giving Suwayda a geographic space to maintain its identity. I doubt Syria will succeed in being a unified nation in the coming years,” according to the Israeli channel.