Syria’s government has struggled to assert its authority in Suweida since Assad’s overthrow [Getty]
A rival of Syrian Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri was killed in Suweida by unknown assailants on Tuesday, amid heightened tensions in the area over the administration of the southern Syrian province.
According to local sources cited by Arabi21, Munir Najib al-Bahri was shot dead during an attempted kidnapping in Suweida city.
Local news outlet Sweida 24 said al-Bahri was a prominent opponent of Hijri – a pro-Israel Druze leader – and his National Guard militia. Al-Bahri was also described as one of the early participants in the anti-government protests in 2011 that led to Syria’s civil war.
Syria’s government has struggled to assert its authority in Suweida, a Druze-majority province, since overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Unrest, which broke out in the area in July 2025, saw at least 1,707 people killed in Suweida, mostly local civilians from the Druze sect, alongside members of the Bedouin community and at least 225 government personnel, according to the UN.
The violence also saw Israel carry out strikes on Syria, which it said were in support of the Druze minority.
National Guard leader Hijri recently sparked controversy in Syria after a video circulated in which he described the Druze as having a “historical relationship” with Israel.
Hijri has previously made statements praising Israel, including saying that Tel Aviv “saved” the Druze community from genocide, and calling his followers a “part” of Israel.
In the recent video, the Druze leader also discussed the formation of a new administrative council and told those who support the Syrian government to leave the province.
Elsewhere, Suweida governor Mustafa al-Bakour spoke to Syria TV about the challenges facing the government in the region, saying are obstructing efforts to find solutions and affecting the delivery of services in the area.
Al-Bakour added that the armed groups, including Hijri’s National Guard, “control the key aspects of life in the governorate and prevent any rapprochement with the state”.
The governor highlighted the threat of violence posed by the militias in Suweida, adding that those who express support for the central government have been threatened with deadly attacks.
