Graeco Levantine

Conversation with Sheikh Hikmat el HiJri about Jihadism I had a phone conversation with Sheikh Hikmat el Hijri, spiritual leader of the Druse community in Syria, and the leader of the Bashan nation, in his headquarters in Souaida, while the governorate has been under attack by Jihadists. I received from him a briefing about the situation in general and the humanitarian state of affairs in the area in particular. Basically, the community (Druse and Christians) is under siege in the city, and dozens of villages are occupied by jihadi militias backed by the regime. For a second year, the tens of thousands of students from Souaida have not been able to complete their school year across Syria, kidnapped women are still unheard from, and attempts by armed jihadis are still taking place around the Druse and Christian areas. Sheikh al Hijri said he values President Trump statements and actions against terrorism worldwide including against al Qaeda, ISIS, and especially whom he qualified as jihadists in recent weeks. The leader of the Jabal Bashan nation, an ancient population that lived since before the Caliphate, the Crusades, and the Ottoman Sultanate, between Jabal Druse, NW Jordan and modern day Israel, said he and his community want only Peace between all nations in the region and wish to practice their right for self determination along with the same right given by the United Nations to all peoples of the world. Unfortunately, the jihadi forces in the region reject that right to others and punish any community, calling for freedom and security. The Sheikh, whom I likened last year to George Washingtom of the Bashan country is indeed seeking independence from the Syrian Arab Republic in asmuch as Bosnia, Kosovo and South Sudan sought self-determination to their peoples. The Bashan people will establish the best relations with the rest of Syria, like the Czeck Republic and the Republic of Slovakia or East Timor and Indonesia. Sheikh Hikmat urged civil society groups and lawmakers in the region and the free world to offer aid and political support to the beleaguered community in south Syria. He added that his people thanked Israel for saving Druse and Christians in Souaida in July 2025, but the wish of the local population is to live in Peace and establish trade. The leader of Bashan agreed on visiting the US, Saudi Arabia, Israel and any country that can help in ending the war in Syria. He said "we will look at all options except to be dissolved under the power that committed genocide against our people." I told him that as a citizen of the United States, I pray and hope that his community is protected and safe. But dialogue with the great American people is a must, perhaps first between representatives of the local Souaida "parliament" and the US Congress. But there must be a way to preserve peace and freedom across Syria. @POTUS @SecRubio @gidonsaar @YoussefRaggi @ABZayed @if