In a dramatic escalation of Swedish/Suwayda's standoff with Damascus, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri has called for the establishment of a separate autonomous region and appealed for international backing, even thanking the United States and Israel for support. The appeal came as a new, al-Hijri–blessed military umbrella, the "National Guard," announced it had absorbed key local militias, most notably the influential Men of Dignity Movement.
Enab Baladi reported the developments, stating that the Guard, formed on August 23, now comprises around 40 armed factions, and characterized al-Hijri's push as the most straightforward public call yet from Suwayda's leadership for separation from Syria.
In a video circulated by local media, including al-Rasid, Men of Dignity's new leader, Mazid Khaddaj (Abu Diab), pledged loyalty to the Guard and to a "Supreme Legal Committee" set up by al-Hijri. His endorsement marked a watershed for the Druze heartland: the Men of Dignity, founded in 2013 by the late Sheikh Wahid al-Balous and numbering thousands of fighters, is Suwayda's most influential armed group. The Guard also announced the affiliation of the "164th Brigade," alongside various factions.
The Men of Dignity Movement is the most prominent armed faction in Suwayda. On Sunday, it appointed Mazid Khaddaj, also known as Abu Diab, as its new leader, succeeding Yahya al-Hajjar. The movement was established in 2013 by Sheikh Wahid al-Balous, who opposed the Assad regime until his assassination in September 2015 in a car bombing. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown, but the regime and Hezbollah have been implicated in the incident.