DAMASCUS — Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to pursue national unity through dialogue rather than military force, rejecting any calls for partition while accusing Israel of deepening unrest in the country’s volatile south.
Speaking during a state-organized dialogue session with tribal and community leaders from Idlib province, Mr. Sharaa said the Syrian people had endured enough war and bloodshed. “We still have another battle ahead of us to unify Syria, and it should not be with blood and military force… it should be through some kind of understanding because Syria is tired of war,” he declared in remarks aired by state television.
The statement comes at a delicate moment, after weeks of tensions in the Druze-majority province of Sweida. The area saw a surge of violence last month when clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin escalated into broader confrontations that drew in government forces — prompting widespread accusations of abuses by Damascus. Israel also launched military strikes in the south during that period.
Hundreds of protesters marched in Sweida on Sunday, denouncing sectarian violence and demanding self-determination. Some waved Israeli flags, underscoring growing frustration among local communities who accuse authorities of siding with rival groups.
Mr. Sharaa acknowledged violations by multiple parties in last month’s clashes, including elements within government security forces. He said the state must hold “all perpetrators of violations to account, whatever their affiliation.”
Accusing Israel of direct interference, the Syrian leader warned that external powers were attempting to inflame divisions. “Some parties seek to gain power through regional power, Israel or others. This is also extremely difficult and cannot be implemented,” he said, dismissing prospects of partition or federal cantons within Syria.
Israel, which has a Druze community of its own, defended its involvement by claiming it was protecting minorities in southern Syria and ensuring the region’s demilitarization. Damascus, however, views such actions as an attempt to erode central authority.
Beyond the southern front, Mr. Sharaa confirmed ongoing negotiations with the Kurdish-led administration in the northeast, which governs semi-autonomous territories. A deal reached in March to integrate Kurdish security and civilian institutions into the Syrian state has faced delays, with both sides still deadlocked on implementation mechanisms.
“We are now discussing the mechanisms for implementation,” Sharaa said, signaling cautious optimism despite deep rifts over decentralization.
As Syria cautiously emerges from more than a decade of brutal conflict, the interim leadership faces mounting challenges from quelling sectarian flashpoints in the south, to balancing Kurdish demands in the north, to fending off regional interference. For now, Mr. Sharaa has positioned dialogue, reconciliation, and accountability as the pillars for rebuilding a fractured nation.