Al-Jazeera's Interview with Syrian Druze Leader Layth al-Balous

Translation and Overview

A conventional picture emerging in analysis of the situation regarding the primarily Druze province of al-Suwayda’ and relations with the new Syrian central government is that the Druze leadership- both military and spiritual- has largely come to agreement with the new government on matters of administration and security, while Hikmat al-Hijri- one of the three mashayakh al-aql (most senior spiritual Syrian Druze leaders)- and his followers are supposedly the rejectionists and spoilers. In this supposed dichotomy, Layth al-Balous- son of Wahid al-Balous who established the Rijal al-Karama movement and responsible for the ‘al-Karama Guesthouse’ in al-Suwayda’ province- is upheld as a key Druze leader standing with the new Syrian government. Some non-Druze supporters of the new government even promote him as a potential candidate to be one of the future mashaykh al-aql.

But this portrait of Layth al-Balous is based on a rather superficial reading of news reports and statements. A closer examination of his discourse- most notably, his recent interview with al-Jazeera Arabic- would suggest that the divisions among the Druze religious and military leaders are being exaggerated.

It is certainly true that there is no single unified Syrian Druze position on all political issues in Syria today, and some Druze are more skeptical of the new central government than others. One example of a dividing political issue is the question of federalism: should al-Suwayda’ province be an autonomous region within a federal Syria? Debate about federalism existed during the anti-regime protests that began in the province in August 2023 and it continues until now.

However, Layth al-Balous’ interview with al-Jazeera is not about the question of aspirations for federalism. Rather, it focuses on issues of management of security in and around al-Suwayda’ province, and an examination of the details shows how the narrative of a sharp dichotomy between him and Hikmat al-Hijri is an exaggeration: