Sectarian v iolence t hreatens Syria as S haraa f aces d eep d ivisions

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who came to power nine months ago, has made important diplomatic gains abroad. Yet at home, he faces growing unrest as sectarian tensions threaten to tear the country apart after more than a decade of civil war.

In the northeast, Kurdish forces are refusing to fully integrate into the Syrian state and demand a new constitution that acknowledges their rights. In the south, the Druze community has clashed with government forces, with some leaders openly calling for independence. Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari accused the government of backing Bedouin fighters to “eliminate” the Druze and even thanked Israel for intervening militarily against Damascus. In Sweida, Druze militias now control checkpoints and run local councils, with protests featuring both Druze and Israeli flags.

Meanwhile, in the northwest, members of the Alawite community fear for their survival after government-linked Sunni militants massacred hundreds earlier this year. Many minorities—including Druze, Christians, and Alawites—say they feel betrayed by Sharaa’s Islamist-led administration. “How can we trust a state that turns its tanks against its own people?” asked Abu Bilal, a Druze father of three from Sweida.

Sharaa has publicly rejected calls for federalism or partition, insisting he wants to govern for all Syrians. But his critics accuse him of failing to protect minorities. Syrian officials claim Israel is deliberately fueling sectarian divisions to destabilize the country.

Behind the scenes, some Syrian officials are exploring reconciliation efforts in Sweida. Ideas include prisoner exchanges and returning displaced families to their homes, but they admit rebuilding trust will take years. Sharaa has promised accountability, and earlier this month, authorities announced the detention of defence and interior ministry officials linked to killings in Sweida.

For now, the president’s vision of unity faces one of its hardest tests yet. Without addressing sectarian grievances, the risk of Syria breaking apart remains real.