SAEDNEWS: Perched on the slopes of Jabal al-Arab in southern Syria, As‑Suwayda stands as a resilient bastion where Druze identity has flourished for centuries—its rocky ridges as much a shield as its tight‑knit community.
According to Saed News, As‑Suwayda—often dubbed Syria’s “Druze mountain” and the heart of the Jabal al‑Arab region—serves as the spiritual and cultural nucleus for roughly 350,000–400,000 inhabitants, 85–90 percent of whom are Druze. This highland city’s elevation and rugged terrain have historically provided a natural bulwark against external intrusion, allowing its residents to safeguard esoteric religious rites and communal cohesion.
Straddling the borders of Jordan and Israel, As‑Suwayda functions not merely as an administrative centre but as the stage for clandestine Druze ceremonies and festivals. “Our ceremonies are woven into the landscape,” explains a local religious official, “just as our history is etched into these mountains.” Arabic is the lingua franca, yet local customs—passed down through generations—imbue everyday life with distinct Druze colors.
During Syria’s struggle against French mandate in the 1920s, leaders like Sultan Pasha al‑Atrash emerged from these very hills, cementing the city’s legacy of autonomy and resistance. In the ongoing Syrian conflict, As‑Suwayda’s homogeneous population and allegiance to local elders have yielded relative stability compared to other provinces.
Economically, the region thrives on agriculture, viticulture and traditional crafts. Tight familial networks reinforce social order and facilitate the operation of community schools and cultural centres. As modern pressures beckon younger generations to urban centres or the diaspora, As‑Suwayda’s enduring lesson remains clear: geography and faith, intertwined, can forge a fortress of identity even amid the Middle East’s most turbulent storms.
