Lebanon’s Druze Leader Calls for Arab and Turkish Mediation to End Sweida Clashes
Lebanon’s Druze Leader Urges Arab and Turkish Mediation to Halt Sweida Violence
Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona, the spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Druze community, has called for urgent Arab and Turkish mediation to end the escalating violence in Syria’s southern Sweida province, warning of foreign manipulation and the risk of broader sectarian conflict.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Abil-Mona emphasized the need for a comprehensive, Syrian-led dialogue supported by strong regional guarantees to prevent further bloodshed and national fragmentation.
“Dialogue is the only viable path to avoid further bloodshed and division in Sweida and Syria at large,” he said, cautioning that without solid backing, ceasefire agreements remain fragile.
He noted that the recent ceasefire in Sweida was a positive step, but its durability depends on credible mediation. “Its implementation requires Arab and Turkish guarantees, as deep mistrust persists between the state and local factions,” he added.
Clashes in Sweida began on June 13 between Bedouin tribes and armed Druze groups, spiraling into attacks on regime forces and drawing Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian military sites.
Abil-Mona warned of attempts to extend the unrest into Lebanon, raising concerns over regional instability. “There are troubling movements aimed at transferring this sedition into Lebanon,” he said. “That raises serious fears about destabilising our internal balance.”
He also accused Israel of exploiting the situation in Sweida to deepen divisions and incite certain communities toward seeking external protection. “Israel is the primary beneficiary of what’s happening in Sweida… This is not a local initiative, it’s an entirely Israeli project.”
The Druze leader stressed that coordination is ongoing with other Lebanese religious authorities, including Dar al-Fatwa, to curb inflammatory rhetoric and protect Lebanon’s internal unity.
Calling for a national awakening and inclusive dialogue, he said: “The continued clashes in Sweida threaten to fragment the country. But the Druze spiritual leaders in Syria want unity — one land and one people.”
Abil-Mona highlighted Türkiye’s potential role in facilitating negotiations and rebuilding trust in Syria’s political process. “A Syrian-Syrian dialogue is long overdue,” he concluded.
