Suwayda: Two Syrian Druze clerics were killed by outlaw groups in the southern Suwayda province on Tuesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the state-run TV channel Alikhbariah, citing unnamed sources, reported that Raed al-Matni, a religious figure in the Druze community, was killed by the so-called 'National Guard,' a group affiliated with Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri. Hijri's forces allegedly killed Matni on charges of collaborating with the Syrian government. His body was transferred to the Suwayda National Hospital.
A video has circulated on social media showing Matni being beaten during his arrest by Hijri's forces on Sunday, which has sparked anger and outrage across Syria. According to Syrian media outlets, Matni held a significant social and religious role in the eastern countryside of Suwayda. He had been close to Hijri before a rift emerged between them following recent acts of violence in the province last July and the formation of the 'National Guard,' a move Matni opposed.
The channel further reported that Sheikh Maher Falhout was killed two days after being arrested by Hijri's forces. There was no immediate comment from the Suwayda governorate or the Syrian authorities on the killings. The Druze community in Suwayda has three religious authorities, whose positions sometimes diverge: Hikmat al-Hijri, Hammoud Yahya al-Hinnawi, and Yusuf Jarbou'. Followers of Hijri constitute a minority and are not considered representative of the Druze community in the province.
Suwayda has observed a ceasefire since July 19 following a weeklong bout of clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes that left hundreds dead. Since Bashar al-Assad's ouster in late 2024, Syria's new administration has taken several measures to restore security in Syria and pursued political and economic reforms while promoting social cohesion and working to expand cooperation with regional and international partners. Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia last December, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was formed in January.