One of the most notable complaints from Druze in al-Suwayda’ province about external coverage of events there is the phenomenon of ‘media distortion’: that is, the widespread circulation of distortions and inaccurate information among external media outlets and analysts. A prime example of this recently is the repeated claim that Layth al-Balous, who is the son of Harakat Rijal al-Karama founder Wahid al-Balous and has been known for his more sympathetic stance towards the Syrian government, is the leader of Harakat Rijal al-Karama or a leader in it. Examples of this claim can be seen below (including the reliably absurd discourse of sectarian bigot Aimen Dean, infamous for his nonsensical information that al-Qaeda would dissolve itself).
But the reality is that Layth al-Balous is not a leader in Harakat Rijal al-Karama and has not been involved with the group for some time- something that can easily be verified by someone who actually follows events in al-Suwayda’. As such, the group has now been compelled to issue its own statement making clear that Layth is not affiliated with Harakat Rijal al-Karama.
The statement also makes clear, once again, that Harakat Rijal al-Karama was among the local Druze factions that fought against the government forces and pro-government tribal militias, making clear that they fought in response to the government forces’ violations against the local population, and that the group, and not just Hijri’s self-declared followers, views those violations as the reason for the descent into all-out conflict. This also shows the misleading nature of the claim circulated by pro-government pundits that the local Druze resistance was ‘al-Hijri’s militia/militias.’ By claiming that Layth is the leader of Harakat Rijal al-Karama or a leader in the group, pro-government pundits inflate Layth’s status within al-Suwayda’, given that Harakat Rijal al-Karama is one of the leading factions in al-Suwayda’.
It frankly amazes me why external pundits and observers who should know better have been circulating such basic errors in information about the various Druze factions of al-Suwayda’, but this is the sad reality: many of them have been recklessly promoting and recycling inaccurate and crude polemics taken from social media that have contributed to the incitement that has led to the tragic bloodshed in al-Suwayda’.
Below is the statement translated by me.
Important: the misleading official media continues to insert the name of Harakat Rijal al-Karama into statements and positions that do not at all represent it, the most recent being the presentation of Layth al-Balous as a commander in Harakat Rijal al-Karama.
The movement confirms that Layth al-Blous has not been among the ranks and cadres of Harakat Rijal al-Karama since 2016, and we reaffirm to the media participating in the bloodshed through distorting facts, that the position of Harakat Rijal al-Karama is clear from the sacrifices of dozens of martyrs who shed their blood while resisting the treacherous, aggressive aggression.
What happened in al-Suwayda’ in terms of the violation of the pact by the regime’s forces that entered on the pretext of conflict resolution and committed massacres and violations is the main reason for all that is happening, and the mountain today is one unified bloc against the rapacious invaders.
Harakat Rijal al-Karama
Monday 21 July 2025