Building Trust, Ensuring Sovereignty: Hajri refuses The As-Suwayda solution road map

General Background:

A trilateral meeting was held in Damascus on September 16, 2025, between Syrian Foreign Minister Aseed al-Sheibani, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman al-Safadi, and US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barak. This meeting came as a follow-up to previous discussions in Amman aimed at cementing a ceasefire in the As-Suwayda governorate and resolving the crisis there.

Basic Principles of the Agreement:

1. Unity and Sovereignty: Affirming that As-Suwayda is an integral part of Syria, and its people are equal citizens in rights and duties.

2. Gradual Approach: Adopting a gradual and realistic methodology that starts with building confidence and leads to the full reintegration of the governorate into the state.

3. International Partnership: Commitment from Syria, Jordan, and the United States to work together in a genuine partnership to achieve stability and build a future for Syria.

Agreed Actions and Steps (Summarized):

• Security:

  • Withdrawing non-state fighters from the governorate's borders.

  • Deploying qualified and trained police forces on the As-Suwayda-Damascus road and on the governorate's administrative borders.

  • Working to reach security understandings with Israel regarding southern Syria, while emphasizing Syrian sovereignty.

  • Forming a local police force in As-Suwayda representing all components of the community.

• Humanitarian and Reconstruction:

  • Ensuring the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid.

  • Restoring basic services and plans for rebuilding damaged villages and properties.

  • Enabling displaced persons to return to their villages.

• Justice and Reconciliation:

  • Inviting the Independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate recent events and hold those responsible for violations accountable.

  • Releasing detainees and abductees and facilitating exchange processes with support from the Red Cross.

  • Leading efforts to promote a national narrative based on unity and criminalizing hate speech.

  • Forming a local council representing all components of As-Suwayda to lead reconciliation efforts with the government.

  • Bringing delegations from local communities and tribes to Damascus to help achieve reconciliation.

• Institutional:

  • Activating civil and administrative institutions in the governorate.

  • Supporting a comprehensive political process led by Syria.

• Follow-up Mechanism:

  • Forming a trilateral working mechanism (Syria, Jordan, United States) to monitor the implementation of the roadmap, with full respect for Syrian sovereignty.

Ultimate Goal:

Restoring stability and security to As-Suwayda governorate and fully reintegrating it into the institutions of the Syrian state, while preserving Syria's unity and sovereignty and guaranteeing the rights of all its citizens.

The Druze spiritual leader of As-Suwayda, Hikmat al-Hajri, rejected the proposed roadmap through a statement issued by the 'High Legal Committee,' considering the events of July as 'crimes against humanity' that cannot be addressed through local mechanisms. The committee also accused the Syrian judiciary of being incapable of handling the violations due to its politicization.

The solution roadmap was announced during a press conference on September 16, attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Syrian Foreign Minister Aseed al-Sheibani, and U.S. Envoy to Syria Thomas Barak. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Turkey welcomed the announcement.

It is worth noting that the Druze spiritual leader, Hikmat al-Hajri, had called for the governorate's secession from Syria following clashes in July. These clashes escalated due to fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin factions, which in turn led to tribal mobilization in support of the Bedouins. Al-Hajri expressed gratitude to both Israel and the United States.

On Monday, September 15, the governorate witnessed a signature campaign demanding the "right to self-determination" under "international law," which gathered allegedly ten thousand signatures. Meanwhile, the head of internal security in the governorate, Hussam al-Tahan, announced that the Suwayda-Damascus road was secure and under surveillance. Additionally, the Syrian Ministry of Interior appointed Suleiman Abdul Baqi as the director of the governorate's security department.

Details:

"As-Suwayda Governorate is part of Syria, and its citizens are Syrians with equal rights and obligations.
Confidence-building measures and transitional solutions are to be implemented to integrate the governorate.
Syria, Jordan, and the United States will cooperate to implement the following steps:

1. The Syrian government will invite the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate recent events in the governorate. The government commits to holding all perpetrators of violations accountable in accordance with Syrian law.

2. The Syrian government will take necessary legal measures against anyone implicated by evidence in committing violations or being involved in transgressions against civilians and their properties.

3. The government, with support from Jordan and the United States, will ensure the continued delivery of sufficient humanitarian and medical aid to the governorate, in cooperation with relevant UN agencies and other countries.

4. The government will continue its efforts to restore all essential services in the governorate, with support from Jordan and the United States to secure adequate funding from international donors.

5. The government will deploy qualified and trained forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior along the As-Suwayda–Damascus road to ensure safe freedom of movement for citizens and trade, with support from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States to help overcome practical obstacles.

6. The government will withdraw all non-state fighters from the governorate’s administrative borders and deploy qualified, trained, and disciplined police forces along the administrative borders, in accordance with the Amman Agreement. All necessary steps will be taken to enable residents of As-Suwayda villages affected by recent clashes to return to their homes.

7. The three countries will support the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross to secure the release of all detainees and abductees and facilitate exchange processes.

8. The Syrian government will announce its plans for rebuilding affected villages and properties. Jordan and the United States will support efforts to secure necessary support.

9. The Syrian government will lead efforts to promote a national narrative celebrating unity, diversity, equality among all Syrians, and the rule of law. It will also strive to eliminate hate speech that promotes division, violence, sectarianism, and ethnic and religious discrimination, including by adopting legislation criminalizing hate speech. Jordan and the United States will provide legal assistance to adopt such legislation if needed.

10. Jordan, in coordination with the Syrian Arab Republic, will invite a delegation from local communities in As-Suwayda (Druze, Christians, and Sunnis) and another delegation representing Bedouin tribes in the governorate to Damascus to assist in achieving reconciliation.

11. Jordan and the United States will work with the Syrian government and communities in As-Suwayda to agree on short- and medium-term security and administrative arrangements for the transitional period leading to the full reintegration of the governorate into government institutions. These arrangements include plans to achieve the following:

    • Forming a local police force comprising all communities in the governorate, under the leadership of an individual (from the governorate) appointed by the Ministry of Interior (Suleiman Abdul Baqi). Negotiations will determine the structure and composition of this force.

    • Activating all civil administrative institutions in the governorate through cooperation between the local community and relevant state institutions.

    • Coordinating with the local community in As-Suwayda to form a governorate council representing all components of the local community. The council will be tasked with interacting with the government and leading efforts to achieve national reconciliation.

12. Completing the release of all detainees and abductees and accounting for the missing and identifying them.

13. Managing the flow of aid to the governorate in cooperation with the government.

14. Ending external interference in the governorate and reaffirming the commitment that the governorate is an inseparable part of Syria.

15. Facilitating access to all evidence, including bodies, witness testimonies, and surveillance recordings from conflict areas.

16. Cooperating with the Syrian government and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to ensure accountability for anyone proven to have committed violations.

17. Agreeing on a roadmap for reconciliation with the government.

18. The United States, in consultation with the Syrian government, will urge the reaching of security understandings with Israel regarding southern Syria to address the legitimate security concerns of both Syria and Israel, while emphasizing Syria’s sovereignty and authority over its territories. Jordan will support this effort, including through joint meetings.

19. Syria, Jordan, and the United States will establish a working mechanism to monitor the implementation of the roadmap, with full respect for Syrian sovereignty."

Syria news report