Syria
Political Council of Central and Western Syria (PCCWS) logo. Graphic:Rudaw. Logo: Dr Amjad Badran/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prominent Alawite figures are preparing to announce the formation of a new political body representing Syria’s Alawite-majority provinces, a renowned war monitor reported on Wednesday. The move comes just days after Druze leaders in southern Suwayda called for regional autonomy, with both communities having recently been the target of intercommunal violence.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) quoted one of the council’s founding members, Amjad Hassan Badran, as saying the group will be called the Political Council of Central and Western Syria (PCCWS).
In a Facebook post, Badran unveiled the council’s logo, describing it as containing “the laurel and olive that they slaughtered, and with it they slaughtered pride and authenticity,” alongside “the sun, which is the symbol of civilization, and a blue frame [symbolizing] the sea.”
The coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous - Alawite-majority coastal regions overlooking the Mediterranean - are known for their ancient cultivation of laurel and olives, believed to date back to 2400 B.C.
Tensions escalated in March when violence broke out in the coastal regions after loyalists of ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad attacked security forces aligned with the country’s interim leadership. According to SOHR, the clashes resulted in approximately 1,700 deaths, the majority of whom were Alawite civilians. Many casualties were attributed to government or pro-government forces.
SOHR, which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria, reported that the PCCWS will include representatives from Latakia, Tartous, and the west-central provinces of Hama and Homs. The PCCWS’s declared goal is to build a “civil and secular model” of governance and establish frameworks for executive, legislative, and judicial authority, while ensuring the political inclusion of all societal components, the monitor added.
Druze push for autonomy
The announcement comes amid a major political shift in southern Syria.
On Monday, Hikmat al-Hajari, the preeminent spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community, publicly called for the establishment of an autonomous Druze region in Suwayda province.
Clashes broke out on July 13 between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes in Suwayda. The conflict escalated with the involvement of Syrian government forces before a US-brokered ceasefire was announced on July 19.
SOHR in mid-August reported that the death toll from the Suwayda violence had reached 1,677, including “452 civilians field-executed” by Syrian government forces.
In a video released Monday by Suwayda24 - a local media outlet that actively reports on Syria’s Druze community - Hajari stated that the intercommunal violence was part of a campaign “to eliminate us as a Druze sect.” He called on “all free countries and people” to “support the declaration of a separate region to protect us.”
In a Wednesday interview with Rudaw, Fadi Badriya, spokesperson for Jabal al-Arab - the heartland of Syrian Druze - said, “Our people are demanding independence and separation,” and claimed they have the backing of “several countries.” He also warned of renewed violence, citing an ongoing “siege” on the province.
Despite the ceasefire, SOHR continues to report daily violations in Suwayda.
On Friday, the monitor highlighted a worsening humanitarian crisis, stating that the province is facing a “dire food shortage” due to a month-long siege. Local sources reported that available supplies are insufficient to meet the population’s daily needs.
Merchants are reportedly unable to bring in goods due to "imposed fees and royalties" at government checkpoints. As a result, many residents are forced to reduce their meals or rely on lower-quality food to survive.
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