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National Guard (Suwayda)

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Not to be confused with National Guard of the Ba'ath Party.

National Guard
قوَّات الحرس الوطنيّ
LeaderSheikh Hikmat al-Hijri (spiritual leader, recognized authority)[1]
SpokespersonTalal Amer[2]
Dates of operation23 August 2025 (2025-08-23) – present
Merger ofOver 40 Druze militias
Country Syria
Allegiance Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda
Motives
HeadquartersSweida Governorate
StatusActive
Size4,000 - 5,000 (claimed at the founding)[4]
c. 12,000 (September 2025 estimate)[5]
AlliesIsrael Israel[6]
OpponentsSyria Syrian transitional government
Wars

The National Guard (Arabic: الحرس الوطني, romanized: al-Ḥaras al-Waṭanī) is a Druze paramilitary group and united front based in Sweida Governorate, southern Syria. It was announced on 23 August 2025 as a unified force of multiple local factions to coordinate military and security efforts in the governorate.[3]

Formation

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Further information: Southern Syria clashes (July 2025–present)

On 23 August 2025, amid a wave of clashes and instability in Southern Syria, a number of armed groups in Suwayda issued statements declaring their merger under the umbrella of the "National Guard".

According to their founding declaration, the move was intended to create "an organized and solid force entrusted with protecting the mountain and its people".[7][8]

The groups emphasized their "absolute commitment to the decisions of the spiritual leadership represented by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri".[a]

Objectives

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The National Guard declared itself as the "official military institution representing the Druze community" in the governorate. Its announced primary objectives include:[7][8]

  • Unifying local armed factions into a single command structure.
  • Defending Suwayda and the Druze community against external threats.
  • Preserving the Unitarian Druze identity.
  • Cooperating with other "auxiliary forces" operating in the region.

Organization

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Structure

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The National Guard describes itself as a fully merged force rather than a loose coalition. Its leadership has pledged loyalty to the guidance of the Druze spiritual authority in Suwayda, represented by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.[7][a] The Institute for the Study of War reported on 25 August that around 40 groups were united to form the National Guard.[10]

Founding groups

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The following notable groups endorsed the formation of the National Guard the day it was announced:[11]

  1. Gathering of the Mountain's Sons
  2. Mountain Youth Relief
  3. Mountain Brigade
  4. Anti-Terrorism Force
  5. Sheikh al-Karama Forces
  6. Al-Ulya Forces
  7. Local Forces
  8. Mount Tod Forces
  9. The Conquerors
  10. Den of the Mountain Forces
  11. Hamza Knights Forces
  12. Southern Sun Forces
  13. Dhiab Hamza Forces
  14. Al-Fahd Forces
  15. Guardians of the Frontiers
  16. Sultan Forces
  17. Sword of Justice Forces
  18. Al-Ghayara Relief
  19. Al-Nashama Relief
  20. Shield of al-Lajat Forces
  21. As-Suwayda Operations
  22. Khayyal Group
  23. Thunder Banner – Ta'ara
  24. Shield of the Mountain Forces – Zain al-Din
  25. Banner Relief – Activated Mountain Tribes
  26. Druze Protection Units
  27. Al-Asail Forces
  28. Unified Army
  29. Jaysh al-Muwahhidin[12]

The National Guard has been described as a merger of the involved groups.[13]

According to Enab Baladi, other groups that later joined include "Men of Dignity,[b] the Unitarian Popular Resistance, Southern Shield Forces, Mountain Shield Forces, Lions of the Mountain Forces, Shield of Tawhid, Sahwat al-Khedr Shield, Mimas and Tal al-Lawz, Men of al-Lajat and Men of al-Kafr", while the 164th Brigade joined on 24 August.[15]

The Suwayda Military Council announced on 27 August that it was committed to joining the National Guard.[16]

In October 2025, the Institute for the Study of War reported that several Druze factions in Suwayda Governorate continued to join under the banner of the National Guard.[17]

Military

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Conventional weapons

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A video published on 7 September 2025 published by the group shows over a dozen operational vehicles, many of which were mounted with weaponry and filled with combatants. Most firearms so far included seem to be Iranian-produced.[18] At least one AM-50 "Sayyad" anti-materiel sniper rifle was included, whose Sayyad variant was widely exported and proliferated after 2008 and continues to be commonly used by Syrian rebel groups.[18][19] This was due to their modification potential and in case of being properly maintained, their potential to outrange assault rifles. Studies of weaponry sold in these regions, however, shows poor maintenance.[20] There were multiple ZU-23-2 autocannons, all of which were mounted to flatbed trucks, a weapon and mounting which is common for rebel groups and a mainstay of Syrian Civil War weaponry.[18][21][22][23] Numerous KPV heavy machine guns were seen, also mounted to trucks.[18][22] They are also common in Syria, and are similar to the ZU-23-2.[23] A number of DShKM Type 54 variant heavy machine guns were in the National Guard's arsenal, again mounted to trucks.[18][22][24][25]

Reactions

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Laith al-Balous criticized the group for its ties to the Sword of Justice Forces and the Al-Fahd Forces, noting their ties to Assad-era figures Ali Mamlouk and Kifah Moulhem, as well as drug trafficker Raji Falhout.[14]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Spiritual leadership of the Druze in Syria is split into two since the 2010s, one is headed by Hikmat al-Hijri, the other is mutually headed by Hammoud al-Hinnawi and Youssef Jarbou.[9]
  2. ^ The Men of Dignity Movement "initially declined to join the new military formation". Later however, they "issued a statement welcoming the announcement of local factions uniting under an "organized military body", describing it as a necessary step at a time when the Druze community is defending its existence "against covetous invaders".[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Clashes erupt between Druze and Syrian government forces in Suwayda". Euronews. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Iran Update, October 9, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Syrian factions in Suwayda form 'National Guard'". Shafaq News. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. ^ "Divisions Among Druze Over New 'Unified Army' in Sweida". Asharq Al-Awsat. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2026. While pro-Hijri sources in the city claim the new force could number between 4,000 and 5,000 fighters{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "Profiles of militias in newly formed Druze national guard in Suwayda, Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. 5 September 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Israel said arming, paying salaries of Druze militia in Syria's Sweida area". The Times of Israel. Reuters. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "مرجعيته الهجري.. مقاتلو السويداء يعلنون تشكيل "الحرس الوطني"" [Under the authority of al-Hijri… Suwayda fighters announce formation of the "National Guard"]. Sky News Arabia (in Arabic). 23 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ a b "Armed groups in Suwayda merge as "National Guard"". North Press Agency. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "حكمت الهجري أحد زعماء الدروز في السويداء" [Hikmat al-Hijri: One of the Druze Leaders in Suwayda]. Al Jazeera Arabic (in Arabic). 16 March 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ "Iran Update, August 25, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "Sweida announces formation of unified national army under name "National Guard"". Hawar News Agency. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ Jawad Al-Tamimi, Aymenn (26 August 2025). "Syrian Druze Factions' Merger Statement". Middle Eastern Forum. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  13. ^ ""Men of Dignity" welcomes formation of armed group in Syria's Suwayda". North Press Agency. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ a b "What Is the "National Guard" Formed by Sheikh al-Hijri in Suwayda, Southern Syria?". Enab Baladi. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ "In Suwayda, the Druze "National Guard" Incorporates Men of Dignity as Sheikh al-Hijri Calls for Separation from Syria". Enab Baladi. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Sweida Military Council announces its readiness to join National Guard". Hawar News Agency. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Iran Update, October 6, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d e War Noir [@war_noir] (7 September 2025). "#Syria 🇸🇾: A new video posted by the recently-formed armed #Druze group "National Guard Forces" in #Sweida (#Suwayda). Fighters armed with a notable #Iran-made 🇮🇷 AM-50 "Sayyad" anti-materiel sniper rifle, ZU-23-2 autocannons, KPV heavy machine guns and DShKM / Type 54 HMGs" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 September 2025 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Iranian AM50 Anti-Materiel Rifle Documented in Yemen – Small Arms Defense Journal". Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Technical Report: Iranian AM-50 12.7 × 99 mm Anti-Materiel Rifle". Conflict Armament Research. September 2021.
  21. ^ Hempel, Alex (25 May 2016). "In the Syrian Civil War, Improvised Weaponry, Vehicles, and Tactics Proliferate". WhiteFleet.net. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Neville, Leigh (2018). Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Toyota War to Modern Special Forces. New Vanguard Ser. Peter Dennis. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-4728-2253-6.
  23. ^ a b War Noir (23 December 2022). "Weapons Used During Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's Assaults in Idlib and Aleppo". Militant Wire. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  24. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (25 April 2021). "Why Russia's DShK Machine Gun Is Fighting Around the World". The National Interest. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  25. ^ Laemlein, Tom (21 November 2024). "Red Fifty: The Soviet 12.7 mm DShK Heavy Machine Gun". An Official Journal Of The NRA. National Rifle Association. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
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