Full Report: UAE‑Israeli Blueprint for Sweida — Challenging Syria’s Political Coherence

The Druze Growing Protests in Sweida

Recent weeks have seen the largest Druze protests in decades in Sweida, Syria, demanding self‑determination amid growing distrust of the new regime. Protesters rallied under Israeli flags and praised Israeli military support, infuriating President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, who urged national unity and warned against fragmentation.

Israel’s Calculated Intervention

As tensions escalated, Israel launched targeted airstrikes near Damascus and in Sweida, citing its commitment to protect Druze communities. Meanwhile, Israeli Druze leaders pushed their government to intervene to defend their Syrian counterparts, leveraging cultural and military connections.

A fragile ceasefire ensued, further signaling Israeli influence.

The Rise of the Suwayda Military Council

Emerging in late 2024, the Suwayda Military Council consolidated Druze military and political power locally. Headquartered at Al Kafr Agricultural Airport, the Council frames itself as safeguarding secularism, decentralization, and minority rights. In practice, though, it acts as both defense force and de facto administration, operating outside Damascus’s direct control

.

Covert Emirati Engineering

According to investigative sources, the UAE is covertly guiding Druze faction leaders and their new council toward greater autonomy. This includes funding, diplomatic facilitation, and strategic coordination. The goal: to weaken Syria’s central authority and render the Druze province politically and militarily divergent .

A Strategic Alliance, UAE and Israel

This unfolding scenario reveals a quietly coordinated triad: the UAE supplies political leverage and financing; Israel provides security, intelligence, and a protective umbrella; and local Druze leaders exert autonomy with newfound authority. Together, they are reshaping Syria’s post‑Assad order, promoting division under the guise of self‑preservation.

Implications for Syria

Fragmented Sovereignty: Sweida’s trajectory signals a dangerous model for further decentralization, with other minorities likely to pursue similar deals.

Erosion of National Cohesion: External meddling risks unraveling Syria’s fragile post‑Assad settlement and compromising its sovereignty.

Precedent for Sectarian Governance: If unchecked, self‑determination under foreign patronage will undermine Syria’s unity and institutional recovery.

Conclusion

The UAE, aligned with Israel, is methodically cultivating Druze autonomy to reshape Syria’s political geography. This covert campaign undermines Damascus’s legitimacy and replaces unified governance with foreign‑backed enclaves.

Dark Box will continue tracking these developments in Sweida and assessing how they’re shaping Syria’s fractured future.