Syria Believed It Had Green Light from U.S., Israel to Deploy Troops to Sweida
In a surprising geopolitical revelation, Syrian government officials reportedly believed they had received tacit approval from both the United States and Israel to deploy troops to the southern province of Sweida. The claim, based on reports from diplomatic sources and regional analysts, suggests that a behind-the-scenes understanding may have influenced Damascus’s recent military movement in the strategically sensitive area near the Jordanian border.
Sweida, predominantly inhabited by the Druze minority, has remained largely autonomous and relatively peaceful throughout much of Syria’s civil war. The region has historically maintained a delicate balance between opposition groups, local militias, and the Assad regime, with external powers closely watching developments due to the province’s proximity to Israel, Jordan, and U.S. influence zones in eastern Syria.
According to sources cited by regional media, Syrian officials interpreted recent U.S. and Israeli military restraint and diplomatic signals as a form of indirect consent to increase their presence in Sweida. The belief reportedly stemmed from backchannel communications, quiet diplomatic engagement, and shifting regional security priorities. These included U.S. and Israeli concerns about Iranian militias and smuggling networks operating in southern Syria.
Analysts believe the U.S. and Israel may have been willing to overlook limited Syrian troop movements in Sweida if they contributed to stabilizing the region and curbing the influence of Iran and Hezbollah. Some Western officials, speaking off the record, acknowledged a more pragmatic stance, suggesting that while there was no formal agreement, there may have been an implicit understanding that certain limited moves by the Syrian army would not trigger a response.
However, the apparent green light has sparked controversy. Local Druze leaders and residents in Sweida have voiced strong opposition to the increased military presence, fearing it will undermine their semi-autonomy and bring renewed conflict. Protests erupted in several towns in the province, with demonstrators accusing the Assad regime of attempting to reassert full control and suppress civil liberties.
In response, Syrian government officials have insisted that the deployment is meant to combat terrorist cells and organized crime in the region, not to provoke local populations or threaten neighboring countries. Damascus has also denied any secret coordination with Israel or the U.S., instead portraying the move as part of a sovereign effort to restore law and order.
The U.S. State Department, when asked for comment, denied granting any approval for Syrian military action and reiterated its opposition to Assad’s regime. Similarly, Israeli officials have not publicly acknowledged any agreement, though some defense analysts note that Israel’s lack of response may signal a calculated tolerance.
The unfolding events in Sweida highlight the complex web of regional diplomacy, where silence or ambiguity can be interpreted as approval. While the full details remain unclear, the incident underscores the fragile and often contradictory nature of alliances and power dynamics in the Middle East, particularly in post-conflict Syria. As tensions simmer, the international community continues to monitor whether the troop movements will escalate into broader unrest or remain a contained maneuver within a shifting geopolitical framework.