Interview: Syrian Minister Accuses Israel of Undermining National Unity
Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa emphasized that Damascus had pursued dialogue—not war—over the past six months with political and armed factions in Suwayda.
Syrian Information Minister Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa holds a press conference at a hotel in Damascus, Syria, on July 23, 2025. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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yrian Information Minister Hamza Mustafa has accused Israel of working to divide Syria by backing local separatist actors in the southern governorate of Suwayda, particularly Druze leader Hikmet al-Hajri, in an effort to create autonomous canton-like regions and weaken the Syrian state.
“Israel does not want the existence of a united and stable Syria,” Mustafa told Anadolu in an exclusive interview. “It continues its policy of keeping the country fragmented and unstable. Unfortunately, some internal parties also serve Israeli policies with narrow political calculations.”
His comments come after weeks of rising tensions and intermittent clashes between Syrian security forces, tribal factions, and groups loyal to Hajri in Suwayda, a predominantly Druze province. According to Mustafa, a recent ceasefire agreement in the region was reached through U.S.-led mediation, supported by several other unnamed countries.
Ceasefire built on political dialogue
Minister Mustafa emphasized that Damascus had pursued dialogue—not war—over the past six months with political and armed factions in Suwayda, including Hajri’s group.
“The government had no intention of launching a military operation in Suwayda,” he said. “Our approach was political from the beginning. We offered local concessions, including allowing young people from the area to participate in maintaining order.”
Despite accusations from opposition figures that the government used force, Mustafa insisted that the military involvement was reactive, not pre-planned, and stemmed from rising tension between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes.
He described the ceasefire as a three-stage process: halting armed clashes and withdrawing security forces from the city center; expelling tribal groups from urban areas; and restoring services such as fuel, food, telecommunications, and internet access.
“Though Hajri-affiliated groups initially tried to violate the ceasefire, it stabilized within days,” he said.
Rejecting aid blockade allegations
Addressing allegations that the Syrian government was besieging Suwayda and restricting aid, Mustafa denied any such strategy, asserting that the state continues delivering humanitarian support without sectarian discrimination.
“Hajri and similar factions promote a false narrative about an aid blockade to gain political leverage,” he said. “They want to appear as the only protectors and providers for the region.”
According to Mustafa, Hajri’s faction has been monopolizing aid distribution, not the government, to “buy loyalty and punish opposition.” He said international aid organizations have been invited into the region to supervise distributions transparently.
“The so-called siege narrative is not only false but dangerous—it serves separatist goals and fragments Syrian society,” he warned.
Israel’s role and regional destabilization
Additionally, Minister Mustafa accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of exploiting Syria’s instability and fostering fragmentation in the name of domestic political survival.
“Netanyahu has relentlessly risked the entire region for his own future,” he said. “Israel’s handling of Gaza has already strained its Western alliances. It sees any attempt at a united, independent Syria as a threat.”
Mustafa added that while Israel claims to support Druze communities in occupied Palestine, it exerts pressure on them and uses their identity as a political tool.
“Israel is trying to export this model to Syria through groups like Hajri’s,” he said. “But the vast majority of Syrian Druze have historically sided with Damascus and continue to see Israel as an occupier.”
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U.S. mediation and the path forward
Though critical of Israeli policy, Mustafa acknowledged the role of the United States in mediating recent tensions. He said Washington shares mutual interests with Damascus, including the defeat of Daesh (ISIS) and managing Iranian influence.
“The U.S. has an interest in a stable Syria,” he said, adding that Damascus remains open to political dialogue with international partners.
He also highlighted a new fact-finding commission, ordered by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, to investigate any violations that may have occurred during the Suwayda clashes.
“The government has the courage and ability to admit its mistakes,” Mustafa said. “Every citizen’s life matters. Transparency and accountability are essential in this new phase of Syria’s development.”
Warnings against sectarianism and federalism
In the same context, Mustafa voiced strong opposition to attempts to fragment Syria into sectarian cantons, warning that such models undermine national sovereignty and unity.
“This is not just a government issue—it concerns every Syrian,” he stated. “Separating Suwayda from Syria is impossible historically, socially, and politically.”
He said the Syrian state is working to rebuild its institutions during a difficult post-war transition and emphasized that national unity cannot be compromised.
Touching on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mustafa said the state has been engaged in talks to implement the March 10 agreement, which outlines a roadmap for integrating the northeast under central government authority.
“Syria fulfilled its commitments in the east as it did in Suwayda,” he said. However, no significant progress has been made by the SDF.
Mustafa recognized Türkiye’s opposition to the SDF’s presence, aligning with Ankara’s stance on territorial integrity.
“There is a political window for the SDF to join a unified Syria. But the conditions are clear: one country, one government, and one army.”
Hope for political resolution
Concluding the interview, Mustafa urged Syrians and foreign actors to choose political dialogue over violence.
“Syria will never be monopolized by one group or sect,” he said. “Only through inclusive politics and listening to the voice of reason can we preserve our nation and secure its future.”
Source: Anadolu Agency
