Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Syrian Druze spiritual leader, condemned a “genocidal campaign” against his community following deadly sectarian clashes that resulted in 73 deaths, including 30 security personnel and 15 Druze fighters. The violence, sparked by an allegedly blasphemous audio recording, has posed challenges to the Islamist authorities in Syria, who are under pressure to maintain order. Despite a truce agreement, Hijri expressed distrust in the government and called for international intervention, while Syrian officials rejected foreign involvement, emphasizing national unity.
