US envoy claims drug trade fuels Druze militias in Syria

A dispute over who controls the narrative in southern Syria has intensified as the US special envoy for Syria accused a local spiritual leader of using perceived Israeli backing to target rivals. Tom Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey, made the comments in an interview published on X on Friday.

Barrack stated that a specific Druze sheikh is exploiting the image of support from Tel Aviv and Washington to persecute fellow community members. Although the envoy did not name the individual, the remarks target Hikmat al-Hijri. Al-Hijri is a prominent leader in Sweida who opposes Damascus and has called for full independence. Barrack rejected the idea that the sheikh has explicit US support, calling such claims absolutely wrong.

The envoy linked the local power struggles to the illicit drug trade. He claimed that Druze groups in the province finance their weapons through the sale of captagon. Barrack described the region stretching from Sweida to Daraa as a global hub for manufacturing and selling the drug, comparing the production process to methamphetamine.

In response, the Bashan administration, which is affiliated with al-Hijri, issued a statement expressing anger and condemnation. The group denied that Jabal Bashan is a center for captagon production. They argued that the community has historically fought smuggling networks and has paid a high personal cost, including the sacrifice of young men, in the effort to eradicate illicit drugs.

The political situation has become more complex since al-Hijri declared in May 2026 that the move toward self-determination is irreversible. He emphasized the goal of establishing a fully independent administration for Jabal Bashan that is entirely distinct from the government in Damascus. This push for autonomy has increased scrutiny on the region's internal politics and its relationship with neighboring powers.

Barrack also addressed the military relationship between Israel and the Druze. He noted that Druze communities in the Golan Heights and along the border have served alongside Israeli Defense Forces soldiers. Israel has framed its military interventions in southern Syria as efforts to protect the Druze, including strikes against Syrian government forces in Sweida in July 2025.

The envoy observed that Syria has exercised restraint in response to Israeli incursions. He warned that aggressive retaliation could trigger a wider conflict. Barrack suggested that President Ahmed al-Sharaa does not desire a confrontation, though Israel remains wary of Syria's new leadership. The two nations have held five rounds of border talks since May 2024, which began in Paris.