Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt warned on Friday that the unrest in Sweida could escalate into a prolonged crisis, calling for a ceasefire and dialogue. 

Jumblatt stated that "Jabal al-Arab (Sweida) is an inseparable part of Syria" and proposed a ceasefire as a prelude for dialogue.

Following an emergency meeting of the Druze Unitarian Sect's Religious Council in Beirut, Walid Jumblatt stated, "We are at the start of a very long crisis," warning of a scenario of fragmentation, "I hope we never reach."

He urged "reason over emotion and rushed condemnations" and called for an investigative committee to examine the events that befell the people of Sweida and the Arab tribes.

Jumblatt also condemned "Israel's" repeated assaults on Syria and its daily attacks on Lebanon.

Sheikh Abi al-Mona: Minority concerns require fairness from the majority

On his part, Sheikh Sami Abi al-Mona, head of the Druze Unitarian Sect's Religious Council, expressed the council's fraternal and humanitarian solidarity with the people of Sweida. He stressed that "minority concerns require fairness from the majority," holding the state responsible for the current situation.

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Sheikh al-Mona added, "We are absolutely committed to ensuring that only voices of reason and wisdom emerge from this institution," calling for a forward-looking approach with a clear vision and expressing regret over "the dangerous escalation in Sweida." The Druze leader urged the fortification of "the agreement reached just days ago under Arab and international auspices."

He also called for "turning the page with national unity and a commitment to humanity," condemning what he called "reckless calls for mass mobilization against Sweida."

Emphasizing coordination with Lebanon’s Sunni leadership, he warned against "letting sectarian tensions erupt in Lebanon’s streets."

Arslan: Sweida events amount to attempted genocide

Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan took to the social media platform X, where he described the events in Syria's Sweida province as an attempted "genocide" targeting the Druze community. He accused those he called "takfiri terrorist criminals" of being behind the violence.

Arslan wrote: "An entire community, including its elders, women and children, could have been exterminated by these takfiri terrorist criminals who have no color and no religion."

Arslan emphasized that the Druze community's "Arab, Islamic, national, and patriotic identity is recognized by all," while condemning what he called "Arab silence toward us." He added: "No one understands what it means to abandon an entire people. We are the rightful owners of this land and its history. As we were born and raised here, so shall we remain."

The leader of the Lebanese Democratic Party warned against attempts to frame the events as sectarian, stating: "Anyone betting on portraying this as a Druze-Sunni dispute will lose that bet and be exposed." He emphasized that those behind the Sweida attacks were "terrorists devoid of any religion or morality," noting that targeting religious leaders, women, and children constituted "an unforgivable crime."

Deadly clashes in Sweida

The province of Sweida has witnessed intense fighting in recent days between Druze factions on the one side and security forces and tribal armed groups on the other, with the clashes spilling over to several villages and towns since July 13. 

The clashes resulted in a death toll of more than 650, according to the announcement of the Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh.

Meanwhile, "Israel" carried out airstrikes on southern Syria, including near Sweida and Daraa, as well as in central Damascus under the guise of protecting the Druze population from Syrian regime forces. The UN also expressed concern over civilian casualties resulting from those airstrikes.