Syrian Druze Factions Merger Statement

The 'National Guard' Initiative

Since the failed attempt last month by government forces and allies tribal militias to impose central authority on the primarily Druze province of al-Suwayda’ in southern Syria through a military assault, the province has seen a ceasefire whereby parts of the northern and western countryside are controlled by pro-government forces while most of the rest of the province remains under the control of local Druze factions. The number of armed Druze groups in the province is itself quite large, and one of the issues that may have impeded initial attempts to fend off the assault was lack of coordination owing to the multiplicity of factions.

Now, in a bid to form a more united front, a number of factions declaring loyalty to Druze spiritual leader Shaykh Hikmat al-Hijri have announced the intention to merge into an initiative called the ‘National Guard’. So what is this initiative exactly?