Tag Archives: Druze

White Paper: The Sweida Druze Autonomous Zone and the Long-Term Territorial Integrity of Syria—Implications for Relations with Israel

Posted on February 2, 2026 by nathanalbright

Executive summary The emergence of a Druze-centered “autonomous” governance/security space in Sweida is best understood as a hardening of de facto decentralization under conditions of repeated communal violence, weak state monopoly on force, and cross-border signaling. Reporting from 2025–2026 describes … Continue reading →

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The Druze: A Distinctive Middle Eastern Community

Posted on December 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

The Druze community represents a fascinating example of religious and cultural distinctiveness in the Middle East, with origins dating back to the 11th century CE. Their faith emerged during the Fatimid Caliphate when a group of Ismaili Muslims, led by … Continue reading →

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