Syrian Druze Leader Hikmat al-Hijri Demands Separate Region as Protests with Israeli Flags Rise Amid Kurdish Autonomy Calls

Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria, has called for the establishment of a separate autonomous region for the Druze minority. This demand for self-determination, made public in mid-August 2025, represents a departure from the Druze's traditional stance of cautious neutrality. Recent protests have included Druze demonstrators waving Israeli flags, intensifying concerns about Syria's potential fragmentation and the influence of external actors. The Druze's push for autonomy coincides with similar demands from other minority groups, such as the Kurds, highlighting ongoing tensions between local decentralization and national unity. Meanwhile, overall kinetic violence in Syria has decreased to near-record lows, but vigilante violence accounts for 66% of deaths, underscoring challenges related to transitional justice and stability in the country. The situation remains fluid as the impact of recent sectarian violence, particularly in regions like Suweida and northeastern Syria, continues to unfold.