The Syrian government on Saturday accused “outlaw groups” of completely blocking the Sweida-Damascus highway, while websites affiliated with Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri reported that relatives of detainees from Sweida had blocked the road to demand the immediate release of their family members. Qutaiba Azzam, director of media relations at the Sweida Media Department, said the groups had closed both directions of the highway at the Um al-Zaytun checkpoint, which they control. He added that internal security forces continued to facilitate passage at the al-Matouna checkpoint. The "outlaw groups", affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri reportedly blocked around 100 employees from reaching their workplaces in northern Sweida on Wednesday and had previously prevented students from travelling to sit for general certificate examinations. Tensions persist in southern Syria amid Israeli incursions and attacks, with the risk of escalation growing between government forces and the groups controlling Sweida. Remarks by US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, criticizing al-Hijri sparked anger among his supporters, whose media office said in a statement published on its official accounts late Friday that the comments amounted to “systematic and unacceptable targeting.” The statement rejected describing Sweida’s Jabal al-Arab region as a “center for captagon production,” claiming that captagon production networks were controlled and protected by transnational forces, security agencies, and sectarian and regional militias, which it accused of using drugs to destabilize the region and finance chaos. Al-Hijri’s office rejected Barrack’s claims that the Druze leader was exploiting perceived Israeli support and US backing, saying the leadership had never sought support from Washington or elsewhere. Barrack also accused al-Hijri of persecuting fellow Druze and described the Sweida-Daraa area as a major hub for captagon production and trafficking. He defended Israeli operations in southern Syria on security grounds and praised Damascus for exercising restraint to avoid wider escalation. Barrack said an understanding between Syria and Israel remained possible. Meanwhile, Sweida Governor Mustafa al-Bakour said residents of the province were struggling with deteriorating living conditions and lawlessness under the control of “outlaw groups.” He cited threats and kidnappings and accused the groups of obstructing solutions to protect their own interests.
