The Qatari news network Al Jazeera has reported that Syria's new leadership has reached a significant agreement with residents and officials in the predominantly Druze province of Al-Suwayda, establishing terms for the region's full integration into state institutions.
According to sources cited by the network, the agreement contains specific provisions guaranteeing local representation, including that the provincial police force will be composed exclusively of local residents – primarily Druze. The Syrian government has also committed to appointing both a governor and police commander from among the region's inhabitants. An Israeli source reacted to the reported deal, saying, "We must wait for the details of this agreement to emerge and see and how it affects the Druze. Neither the agreement with the Druze, nor yesterday's agreement with the Kurds, changes Israel's basic posture to the new government in Syria." Israel has taken a very suspicious approach toward the new rulers in Damascus since the downfall of the Bashar Assad regime and warns that they have not shed their jihadi identity.
This development comes just as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls substantial territory in Syria's oil-rich northeast, signed a formal agreement with the Damascus government to integrate with Syria's new state institutions. The Syrian presidency announced the deal on Monday, with photos showing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi finalizing the agreement in Damascus.
The SDF agreement provides for the integration of Kurdish-controlled civilian and military institutions in northeast Syria with central government structures. Under the terms, SDF-controlled border crossings, an airport, and valuable oil and gas fields in eastern Syria will be incorporated into the Damascus administration. Following the signing ceremony, SDF commander Abdi expressed optimism on social media platform X, describing the accord as a "real opportunity to build a new Syria."
These diplomatic initiatives occur against a backdrop of reports of mass killings targeting Alawite minority members in western Syria. On Monday, the interim president acknowledged that this violence threatens his broader efforts to unify the country after 14 years of devastating conflict.
A senior Israeli political source has offered initial comments regarding the newly announced agreement between the Druze community in southern Syria and the central government led by Abu Mohammad al-Julani. "We must wait to clarify the details of this agreement and how it affects the Druze. Neither the agreement with the Druze, nor yesterday's agreement with the Kurds, changes Israel's basic approach to the new government in Syria," the source stated.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz previously delivered a scathing assessment of Syrian President Abu Mohammad al-Julani following the recent massacre of Alawite civilians: "Al-Julani took off the galabiya, put on a suit, and presented a moderate face. Now he has removed the mask and reveals his true face – a jihadist terrorist from the school of al-Qaida, who commits atrocities against the civilian population," Katz said.
The defense minister outlined Israel's security posture toward Syria amid the escalating violence: "Israel will defend itself against any threat from Syria. We will remain in the security zones and on Mount Hermon and protect the Golan and Galilee communities."
Katz specifically addressed Israel's commitment to the Druze population in southern Syria, stating: "We will keep southern Syria demilitarized from weapons and threats and protect the Druze population living there – whoever harms them will be harmed by us."
The current transitional government came to power in December when insurgent forces overthrew the regime of former President Bashar Assad, an Alawite who subsequently fled to Russia, a longtime ally of his government.
