[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Eva J. Koulouriotis | إيفا كولوريوتي [@evacool_](/creator/twitter/evacool_) on x 12.6K followers Created: 2025-07-20 19:34:47 UTC In August 2023, while everyone had accepted Assad's victory over his people with the support of Iran, its militias, and Russia, Suwayda Governorate rose up declaring its break from Assad’s authority. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri emerged as a representative and leader of this popular movement. The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of Syrian security forces and declared for the Syrian revolution’s call for the downfall of the Assad regime. Al-Hijri, who had been a supporter of Assad in previous years and had met with him several times personally, chose to change his position ignite protests that seemed ill-timed, given Assad's military ability to easily reimpose his control over the province militarily. Here, the name of another Druze cleric appeared on the Syrian scene, Sheikh Muwaffaq al-Tarif, the leader of the Druze in Israel. Sheikh al-Tarif played a direct role in guiding Sheikh al-Hijri and gave him Israeli guarantees that the IDF would protect the Suwayda province. This move was Israel’s solution to the possible security threat from southern Syria. The Netanyahu government was waiting for any military operation by the Assad regime towards Suwayda to serve as a justification for the Israeli side to move militarily in southern Syria under the pretext of protecting the Druze. This would also allow Israel to impose a demilitarized zone in southern Syria over Assad’s regime. However, Assad understood the seriousness of what was happening in Suwayda and chose to avoid a military confrontation, withdrawing his forces from most parts of the province. He then ignored the protests and did not take the bait. 5/ XXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [russia](/topic/russia) [iran](/topic/iran) [Post Link](https://x.com/evacool_/status/1947017363444150370)
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Eva J. Koulouriotis | إيفا كولوريوتي @evacool_ on x 12.6K followers
Created: 2025-07-20 19:34:47 UTC
In August 2023, while everyone had accepted Assad's victory over his people with the support of Iran, its militias, and Russia, Suwayda Governorate rose up declaring its break from Assad’s authority. Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri emerged as a representative and leader of this popular movement. The demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of Syrian security forces and declared for the Syrian revolution’s call for the downfall of the Assad regime. Al-Hijri, who had been a supporter of Assad in previous years and had met with him several times personally, chose to change his position ignite protests that seemed ill-timed, given Assad's military ability to easily reimpose his control over the province militarily. Here, the name of another Druze cleric appeared on the Syrian scene, Sheikh Muwaffaq al-Tarif, the leader of the Druze in Israel. Sheikh al-Tarif played a direct role in guiding Sheikh al-Hijri and gave him Israeli guarantees that the IDF would protect the Suwayda province. This move was Israel’s solution to the possible security threat from southern Syria. The Netanyahu government was waiting for any military operation by the Assad regime towards Suwayda to serve as a justification for the Israeli side to move militarily in southern Syria under the pretext of protecting the Druze. This would also allow Israel to impose a demilitarized zone in southern Syria over Assad’s regime. However, Assad understood the seriousness of what was happening in Suwayda and chose to avoid a military confrontation, withdrawing his forces from most parts of the province. He then ignored the protests and did not take the bait. 5/
XXXXX engagements
