National Guard (Suwayda)

National Guard
قوَّات الحرس الوطنيّ
Other nameUnified National Army[1]
FounderSheikh Hikmat al-Hijri[2]
Leaders
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri (spiritual leader, recognized authority)[3]
Military leader
Jalaa Abu Daqqa[4]
SpokespersonTalal Amer[5]
Dates active23 August 2025 (2025-08-23) – present
Merger ofOver 40 Druze militias
Country Syria
AllegianceHikmat al-Hijri[6][7][8]
HeadquartersSweida Governorate
StatusActive
Size4,000–5,000 (claimed at the founding)[9]
c. 12,000 (September 2025 estimate)[10]
Wars

The National Guard (Arabic: الحرس الوطني, romanized: al-Ḥaras al-Waṭanī) is a Druze paramilitary group and united front based in Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria. It was announced on 23 August 2025 as a unified force of multiple local factions to coordinate military and security efforts in the governorate.

Formation

On 23 August 2025, amid a wave of clashes and instability in Southern Syria, a number of armed groups in Suwayda issued statements declaring their merger under the umbrella of the "National Guard".

According to their founding declaration, the move was intended to create "an organized and solid force entrusted with protecting the mountain and its people".[14][15]

The groups emphasized their "absolute commitment to the decisions of the spiritual leadership represented by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri".[a]

Objectives

The National Guard declared itself as the "official military institution representing the Druze community" in the governorate. Its announced primary objectives include:[14][15]

  • Unifying local armed factions into a single command structure.
  • Defending Suwayda and the Druze community against external threats.
  • Preserving the Unitarian Druze identity.
  • Cooperating with other "auxiliary forces" operating in the region.

Organization

Structure

The National Guard describes itself as a fully merged force rather than a loose coalition. Its leadership has pledged loyalty to the guidance of the Druze spiritual authority in Suwayda, represented by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.[14][a] The Institute for the Study of War reported on 25 August that around 40 groups were united to form the National Guard.[17]

Founding groups

The following notable groups endorsed the formation of the National Guard the day it was announced:[18]

  1. Gathering of the Mountain's Sons
  2. Mountain Youth Relief
  3. Mountain Brigade
  4. Anti-Terrorism Force
  5. Sheikh al-Karama Forces
  6. Al-Ulya Forces
  7. Local Forces
  8. Mount Tod Forces
  9. The Conquerors
  10. Den of the Mountain Forces
  11. Hamza Knights Forces
  12. Southern Sun Forces
  13. Dhiab Hamza Forces
  14. Al-Fahd Forces
  15. Guardians of the Frontiers
  16. Sultan Forces
  17. Sword of Justice Forces
  18. Al-Ghayara Relief
  19. Al-Nashama Relief
  20. Shield of al-Lajat Forces
  21. As-Suwayda Operations
  22. Khayyal Group
  23. Thunder Banner – Ta'ara
  24. Shield of the Mountain Forces – Zain al-Din
  25. Banner Relief – Activated Mountain Tribes
  26. Druze Protection Units
  27. Al-Asail Forces
  28. Unified Army
  29. Jaysh al-Muwahhidin[19]
  30. 164th Brigade[20]
  31. Saif al-Haqq Forces

The National Guard has been described as a merger of the involved groups.[21]

According to Enab Baladi, other groups that later joined include "Men of Dignity,[b] the Unitarian Popular Resistance, Southern Shield Forces, Mountain Shield Forces, Lions of the Mountain Forces, Shield of Tawhid, Sahwat al-Khedr Shield, Mimas and Tal al-Lawz, Men of al-Lajat and Men of al-Kafr", while the 164th Brigade joined on 24 August.[20] The Suwayda Military Council later joined.[23]

In October 2025, the Institute for the Study of War reported that several Druze factions in Suwayda Governorate continued to join under the banner of the National Guard.[24]

Reactions

Laith al-Balous criticized the group for its ties to the Sword of Justice Forces and the Al-Fahd Forces, noting their ties to Assad-era figures Ali Mamlouk and Kifah Moulhem, as well as drug trafficker Raji Falhout.[22]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Spiritual leadership of the Druze in Syria is split into two since the 2010s, one is headed by Hikmat al-Hijri, the other is mutually headed by Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Youssef Jarbou.[16]
  2. ↑ The Men of Dignity Movement "initially declined to join the new military formation". Later however, they "issued a statement welcoming the announcement of local factions uniting under an "organized military body", describing it as a necessary step at a time when the Druze community is defending its existence "against covetous invaders".[22]

References

  1. ↑ Use, Can (2 December 2025). "أنباء عن مقتل أحد وجهاء السويداء على يد مجموعات تابعة للهجري" (in Arabic).
  2. ↑ "Suwayda's Balance Between the State and Separatism". Levant24. 30 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda". Euronews. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Public Anger in Suwayda Over Ongoing Extortion and Repression". Levant 24. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  5. ↑ "Iran Update, October 9, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Sharawi, Ahmad (5 September 2025). "Profiles of militias in newly formed Druze national guard in Suwayda, Syria". FDD's Long War Journal.
  7. ↑ "Suwayda's Druze factions form "National Guard" after autonomy demands". SyriacPress. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026. The group also declared its allegiance to the "supreme spiritual authority" Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri
  8. ↑ "Druze Factions Unite Under 'National Guard' as Spiritual Leader Calls for Secession - The Syrian Observer". 25 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Divisions Among Druze Over New 'Unified Army' in Sweida". Asharq Al-Awsat. 23 August 2025. Archived from the original on 5 December 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2026. While pro-Hijri sources in the city claim the new force could number between 4,000 and 5,000 fighters
  10. ↑ "Profiles of militias in newly formed Druze national guard in Suwayda, Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Report: At least four killed in Iranian missile strike in As-Suwayda, Syria". ynetglobal. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "4 killed in missile explosion in southern Syria amid Israel-US confrontation with Iran". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Four people killed in Syria after an Iranian missile falls on building, state media reports". Reuters. 28 February 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 "مرجعيته الهجري.. مقاتلو السويداء يعلنون تشكيل "الحرس الوطني"" [Under the authority of al-Hijri… Suwayda fighters announce formation of the "National Guard"]. Sky News Arabia (in Arabic). 23 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. 1 2 "Armed groups in Suwayda merge as "National Guard"". North Press Agency. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ↑ "حكمت الهجري أحد زعماء الدروز في السويداء" [Hikmat al-Hijri: One of the Druze Leaders in Suwayda]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). 16 March 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  17. ↑ "Iran Update, August 25, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ↑ "Sweida announces formation of unified national army under name "National Guard"". Hawar News Agency. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  19. ↑ Jawad Al-Tamimi, Aymenn (26 August 2025). "Syrian Druze Factions' Merger Statement". Middle Eastern Forum. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  20. 1 2 "In Suwayda, the Druze "National Guard" Incorporates Men of Dignity as Sheikh al-Hijri Calls for Separation from Syria". Enab Baladi. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  21. ↑ ""Men of Dignity" welcomes formation of armed group in Syria's Suwayda". North Press Agency. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  22. 1 2 "What Is the "National Guard" Formed by Sheikh al-Hijri in Suwayda, Southern Syria?". Enab Baladi. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  23. ↑ "Iran Update, January 2, 2026". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  24. ↑ "Iran Update, October 6, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
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