U.S. Ambassador to Turkey accuses Syrian Druze leader of exploiting ties to persecute rivals

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barak criticized Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, accusing him of leveraging perceived Israeli support and U.S. connections to persecute other Druze. Barak stated, "It's not Israel that worries me, but rather a certain Druze sheikh who takes advantage of the impression that he enjoys Israeli support and certain ties with the U.S. in order to persecute other Druze." The ambassador also suggested the Druze-majority region from As-Suwayda to Daraa serves as a major global production center for Captagon and illegal drugs.