Following several days of clashes in and around Sahnaya, south of Damascus, between Druze-majority militias and sectarian groups aligned with the Syrian government, a rift has emerged within the Druze community in southwestern Syria. Earlier today, after meeting with Syrian government officials, a group of Druze religious and community leaders agreed to allow Interior Ministry forces to enter both Sahnaya and Jaramana to disarm armed groups and restore order. However, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, sharply condemned the move, labeling the cooperating leaders as “traitors” and accusing the Syrian government of carrying out a “genocide” against the Druze. Al-Hijri also appealed to Israel and other nations for support in resisting Damascus.