Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area
New York Times: Trump plans to meet with Putin as soon as next week
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drones repeatedly strike the area targeted by Israeli warplanes in the town of Deir Saryan, preventing ambulance crews from advancing to the scene

Lebanese Druze leaders urge ceasefire, unity amid Sweida clashes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 18 Jul 2025 19:31
4 Min Read

Walid Jumblatt warns of a prolonged crisis in Sweida, as Druze leaders urge fairness and "Israel" launches airstrikes on Syria under the guise of protection.

Listen
  • x
  • Walid Jumblatt, the political leader of Lebanon's minority Druze sect, speaks with Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, the spiritual leader of Druze in Lebanon, in Beirut, Friday, July 18, 2025 (AP)
    Walid Jumblatt, the political leader of Lebanon's minority Druze sect, speaks with Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, the spiritual leader of the Druze in Lebanon, in Beirut, Friday, July 18, 2025 (AP)

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.

Related News

Israeli airstrikes kill six, wound ten in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa

Stephen Walt in Foreign Policy: The 'New Middle East' is a myth

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.

  • Syria
  • Druze in Syria
  • Sami Abi al-Mona
  • Lebanon
  • Sweida
  • Walid Jumblat

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, centre, leads a Cabinet meeting which is supposed to discuss the disarmament of Hezbollah, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, August 7, 2025 (Lebanese Presidency press office)
Politics

Hezbollah, Amal ministers walk out of cabinet over US disarmament plot

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, line up as they wait to enter Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi)
Politics

Only 188 of 800 promised aid trucks entered Gaza: Euractiv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India listens to Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they meet for bilateral talks at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, Thursday, July 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil despite partnership

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi during a speech in Sanaa, Yemen, August 7, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)\
Politics

Al-Houthi slams Gaza blockade, warns against disarmament, aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS