US mediation opens door to potential Syria-Sweida agreement

DAMASCUS – Southern Syria is witnessing a significant political shift as the United States quietly brokers contacts between the Syrian government and a prominent Druze religious authority in Sweida, in an effort to resolve the sensitive detainee file, stemming from months of unrest.

While the immediate focus of the talks is a prisoner exchange, regional reports suggest the discussions could pave the way for a broader political and security settlement in the restive province, potentially mirroring the recent agreement reached between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces in the country’s northeast.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Washington is playing a central role in facilitating dialogue between the Syrian government and Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a leading Druze cleric in Sweida who has emerged as a key figure during the past year of tensions. For now, the discussions are described as confidence-building measures centred on detainee exchanges rather than wider constitutional or political questions.

The proposal reportedly under consideration would see Syrian authorities release 61 civilians from Sweida currently held in Adra prison, in exchange for the freeing of 30 personnel from the defence and interior ministries detained by local armed groups affiliated with a formation known as the “National Guard”, established after tensions escalated last July.

On the ground, mediation efforts have already yielded limited results. Local sources say six individuals detained following unrest in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in April 2025 have been released. A fragile calm has also returned to Sweida city after days of tension triggered by the arrest of three young men from the village of Labin on suspicion of stealing telephone cables. Clashes between relatives and internal security forces left one person dead and another wounded, underscoring the volatility that continues to grip the province.

However, Israeli media reports, including coverage by the public broadcaster KAN, indicate that the talks may extend beyond humanitarian exchanges. According to these accounts, the US-backed channel could explore longer-term security and administrative arrangements granting expanded local powers to Sweida’s institutions, while keeping the province formally under Syrian state sovereignty. In return, some local actors would scale back calls for autonomy or self-determination.

Damascus is said to view American mediation under President Donald Trump as a means of reducing the risk of renewed confrontation in the south and limiting potential regional spillover, particularly Israeli intervention. The Syrian government is reportedly studying a formula that would restrict security deployment in Sweida to internal security forces, avoiding the introduction of regular army units that could trigger further escalation.

At the same time, Damascus is attempting to reconfigure its relationship with Druze social and religious figures in Sweida, seeking to curb the influence of hardline voices. Hijri has publicly advocated for greater self-determination for the province and called for international backing, positions firmly rejected by the central government.

Sweida has remained tense since 13 July last year, when clashes erupted between Druze armed groups and Bedouin fighters before expanding with the involvement of government forces and tribal gunmen. Although a ceasefire was reached on 20 July, the situation has remained fragile, with continued sporadic incidents and difficulties in movement and aid delivery.

The broader geopolitical context adds further complexity. Southern Syria sits near the Jordanian border, and Jordan has previously conducted strikes against drug smuggling networks in the region. Israel has also intervened militarily in support of the Druze during earlier clashes. In January, Israeli and Syrian officials met under US auspices in Paris in an effort to reduce tensions, signalling Washington’s growing role in reshaping post-conflict arrangements in Syria.

Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 and the consolidation of power by President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government, Damascus has sought to stabilise peripheral regions through negotiated settlements rather than open confrontation. Earlier this year, a deal with the Syrian Democratic Forces led to their integration into the new national security framework. Observers suggest Sweida could become the next test case.

Between a limited detainee swap and the prospect of deeper security understandings, American mediation now represents a delicate trial of whether southern Syria’s crisis can be contained through dialogue rather than force. In a region where local grievances intersect with regional rivalries and international calculations, the outcome of these talks could shape the next phase of Syria’s fragile transition.