Druze sources in the Syrian city of Suwayda confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that a great state of dissatisfaction was spreading among the popular circles after the “National Guard” affiliated with Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri attacked on the night of Thursday - Friday, the home of Atef Heneidi, who is called “the Pasha” in the governorate, and then kidnapped and “banished” him, on Friday morning, to Damascus, due to his issuing a statement in which he strongly criticized Al-Hijri’s statements, in which he said that the Druze “share the faith with the state.” Israel,” and that they are “an integral part of it.”
However, the sources, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the current security situation, told Asharq Al-Awsat that popular criticism of the incident was taking place “in whispers and in closed rooms, and the governorate did not witness movements on the ground,” in rejection of what happened, while the governor of Suwayda, Mustafa Al-Bakour, called on “the notables and wise men in the governorate” to raise their voices and reject what is happening.
The Henedi family issued a statement published by pages concerned with Suwayda news, in which they affirmed that “the attack on the family home, the shooting and bombing, and the intimidation of women and children is a prescribed criminal crime that we will not tolerate now or in the future by all available legal means,” denouncing “the armed assault and uncivilized response to any opinion, regardless of whether it is support, rejection, or reservation.”
The statement considered, “The attack and deportation of Atef Heneidi is a dangerous and reprehensible precedent that we cannot accept as a family, neither for Atef nor for anyone else.”
The family said in the statement: “We place these aforementioned items in the custody of the people of the law, its sponsors, society and its factions, to stand up to their responsibilities in protecting this fabric and the rule of law and institutions, and so that such actions are not repeated,” stressing that “accountability is a right and a duty, and must extend to all crimes that occurred against the people and the nation in July 2025 and before and after.”
On the other hand, a statement on behalf of “the people of the town of Al-Majdal,” from which Huneidi hails, spread on social media, stating that “after consultation between the people of the town and the stakeholders, it was decided to remove him (Atef Huneidi) from Al-Majdal, in a way that preserves the town’s security, stability, and the dignity of its people.”
But Druze sources in Suwayda told Asharq Al-Awsat that the statement was issued by the National Guard groups controlling the town of Al-Majdal.
In contrast to the silence that dominates the street in Suwayda, activists on social media found an outlet to express their positions on what happened.
Dr. Fayez Quntar, in a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, considered that “kidnapping Atef Huneidi and pushing him out of his home and the home of his ancestors puts Suwayda in danger of division, and the people of the Mountain will not accept the suppression of freedoms, the gagging of mouths, and all this arbitrariness... Enough is enough,” noting that “these are the features of the promised state of Bashan, including suppression, kidnapping, confiscation of freedoms, and monopolization of Suwayda’s decisions and the future of its children.”
In turn, activist Osama Al-Halabi confirmed in his post, “The authentic national voices in the mountain will not stop, but will become louder and louder... because the original does not defeat temporary normalization, immediate interests, and illusions.”
Not fleeting
On Friday night - Saturday, the Governor of Suwayda, Mustafa Al-Bakour, issued a statement published on his Telegram account, in which he considered that “the storming of Huneidi’s house and guest house, and his subsequent arrest and deportation from Suwayda at the hands of outlaw groups, cannot be treated as a passing incident that can be tolerated, or dealt with as if it were a normal matter.”
Al-Bakour warned of “the danger of these actions being repeated until people become accustomed to them. Silence about transgression today may make it a custom tomorrow, and whoever believes that the issue does not concern him because it happened to someone else, must ask himself: Who can guarantee that his house, guest house, or one of his children will not come tomorrow?”
He added: “We do not call for fighting, nor for revenge, nor for confronting weapons with weapons, but not calling for violence does not mean accepting humiliation or remaining silent about transgression, and there is a big difference between wisdom and submission, between concern for civil peace and fear becoming a justification for silence.”
Al-Bakour explained, addressing the people of Suwayda: “The prestige of society is not created by uncontrolled weapons, but rather by the people’s position when they say with one voice: No one is above society, no one is above the law, and no group has the right to appoint itself as a judge, a jailer, and a decision maker about the fate of the people.” Therefore, what is required, according to Al-Bakour, is “a clear social and civil position, from reasonable people, notables, people of speech, and everyone who fears for the future of As-Suwayda, rejecting the storming of homes and guest houses, arresting, deporting, and imposing opinions by force of arms, regardless of the name of the perpetrator and whatever the name of the target.”
A source in the city of Suwayda stated that Al-Bakour’s statement had “a good effect, but the decision (to resolve the Suwayda crisis) is in the hands of the regional countries and is subject to understandings, and the people have no influence on this file and decision.”
As Hezbollah continued its campaign against the Lebanese authority, a ministerial source considered that “this matter is not new,” questioning the party’s deafening silence regarding the fall of Ali Al-Taher, after an Iranian-American deal was favored.
The source told Asharq Al-Awsat: “It is unfortunate that this discourse continues to hold the authority responsible, while everyone knows who dragged the country into this war, and to serve whom he did so.”
While the party did not issue any clear position on the fall of “Ali Al-Taher,” the source asked: “Why did they not defend Ali Al-Taher?” Why don't they tell the truth to their environment about what actually happened there, instead of this complete silence? He added: “How did the speech move from emphasizing the importance of Ali Al-Taher, and the threats and intimidation that accompanied that, to talking about her after her fall as if she was not important?”
Israeli escalation in the south and the Bekaa
The death toll from the Israeli escalation, which was recorded on Friday evening, rose to 4 people and 32 others were injured in Israeli raids that targeted areas in southern Lebanon, according to what the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced today, after the initial toll spoke of 3 dead and 23 wounded.
Israel launched raids on 7 villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, especially in the Nabatieh region, and the raids in the town of Mifdoun resulted in the death of an 18-year-old young woman.
On the other hand, the Israeli army announced that it launched raids, on Friday night, on Hezbollah members and infrastructure, in response to the launch of a march towards its forces in southern Lebanon. He said that the raids targeted “depots of combat weapons” that were to be used against his forces and the citizens of Israel, adding that the strikes aimed to remove an “immediate threat.”
On Saturday, an Israeli drone flight was recorded over Beirut and the southern suburbs at low altitude, while Israeli aircraft launched two successive raids on the town of Mansouri, south of Tyre, targeting a number of homes. The Israeli forces also carried out several bombings on the outskirts of the town, including detonating a barrel containing powerful explosives whose echoes were heard in the surrounding villages. A drone transported explosive materials and dropped them on the town’s homes, according to the National News Agency.
In the afternoon, Al-Wataniya reported that the Israeli army carried out massive bombings in the town of Beni Hayyan in the Marjayoun district, and video clips spread showing the moment of the explosions, with smoke rising from vast areas in the area.
Hezbollah escalates against the government
In addition, Hezbollah escalated its tone towards the Lebanese authority, considering that the continuation of the Israeli aggression proves the failure of the options adopted by the state in dealing with Israel.
The party said, in a statement on Saturday, “The Israeli enemy continues to escalate its aggression and criminality against Lebanon, systematically killing, bombing, destroying and bombing homes and villages in light of absolute international silence, blatant American complicity, and amid the complete absence of the Lebanese authority from assuming its responsibilities.”
He believed that the authority’s continuation of its “wrong choices and its condescending and surrendering approach” only led to “the perpetuation of the occupation and the enemy’s continuation of its aggression and crimes against the Lebanese.”
The party considered that the Israeli aggression constitutes pressure on the Lebanese authority to push it to implement what it described as “agendas” with known goals, warning that its continuation of the negotiating path “gives the enemy a cover to continue its aggression, and gives it more time to achieve its goals and impose its conditions and dictates on Lebanon.”
The party also attacked the direct negotiations and the “Framework Agreement,” considering that the continuation of the occupation and aggression would “defeat” any talk about achievements achieved through this path. He said that the release of some Lebanese prisoners, “important as it is,” cannot be a justification for condoning the continuation of aggression, occupation and killing.
In turn, a member of the Hezbollah bloc, MP Hassan Ezzedine, said that “the political authority in Lebanon has brought the country, with its wrong choices, to a crisis reality,” considering that its bet on the United States to support it politically in confronting Israel “was nothing but an illusion.”
The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called on the Israeli authorities to protect the Palestinian population in the West Bank, and called for the prosecution of violent settlers, in statements that have become frequent, as settlers escalate their attacks in the West Bank.
“Settler violence is a form of terrorism,” Huckabee said from the Palestinian town of Turmusaya near Ramallah, which he visited on Saturday and spent some time. Our message is clear: a crime is a crime, a terrorist act is a terrorist act, and its perpetrators must expect dire consequences.”
Huckabee considered that taking action against the settlers is in the interest of Israel and its reputation, which is damaged by these attacks. He added: “When you try to create an environment in which people feel uncomfortable in their homes, and unsafe for themselves and their children, this is terrorism. “People have the right to live with a level of security and safety... I think (the Bible) is quite clear: ‘You shall not steal, you shall not murder, and you shall not even be covetous.’”
Huckabee's statements - a devout evangelical Christian who has long expressed his support for Israel's annexation of the West Bank, and rejected calls to reduce the Israeli presence there - came after he met with officials in the town of Turmusaya and family members of American citizens killed by settlers or subjected to attacks.
About 3,000 Palestinians live in Turmusaya, 80 percent of whom hold American citizenship.
The mayor of Turmusaya, Nawaf Zaghloul, and the Palestinians who met with Huckabee asked for help in providing them with protection and security, and explained to him more about the settler attacks and the situation in the town.
The Israeli media paid attention to Huckabee's visit. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that in light of the escalation of violence by extremist settlers and after their hostile messages to him, Huckabee visited the Palestinian town of Turmus Aya, attacked the settlers again, and mocked them as well.
Commenting on the incident of settlers spraying graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian village against him last week, Huckabee said: “At least they wrote my name correctly, and admitted that they are terrorists.”
Settlers had written on the walls of houses in a Palestinian village: “Huckabee: Greetings from the terrorists.”
The Walla website described Huckabee's visit as a surprising step and an unusual visit. The website said that Huckabee also visited the homes of Palestinians, and told them: “I hold daily conversations, not only with the government; But also with the citizens of Israel, and I want to assure you that most of them are disgusted by the behavior of this terrorist group. “The United States can push for a solution to these problems.”
Huckabee addressed Palestinian Samir Jumaa inside his home, which had previously been subjected to settler attacks: “You have the right to live in safety in your beautiful home. “You should not be treated with a different standard of justice than anyone else.”
“Maariv” said under the title “The American ambassador to the West Bank says: Terrorism is terrorism,” and Channel 12 quoted him saying that violent settlers must be tried.
Settlers have escalated their attacks in the West Bank in recent years, and intensified their attacks with the start of the last war in Gaza, on October 7, 2023. These attacks this year began to take a bloody turn, and included carrying out large, almost daily attacks on areas in the West Bank, which also included areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority, such as “A” and “B,” during which Palestinians were killed, homes, places of worship, and mosques were burned, and property and vehicles were vandalized. And lands, killing livestock and stealing others, and seizing lands and houses.
This year, according to official Palestinian statistics, settlers killed 27 Palestinians.
Settlers have continued to besiege Palestinians in the town of Qasra, near Nablus, for 4 weeks, and daily launch widespread and deadly attacks in other areas of the West Bank.
On Saturday, two settlers stormed the town of Turmus Aya, northeast of Ramallah, while Huckabee was there.
A member of the Turmusaya Municipal Council, Awad Abu Samra, told WAFA that two settlers riding a four-wheel-drive motorcycle stormed the eastern area of the town, about a hundred meters away from where the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, was during his tour of the town.
A few days ago, a settler in Turmusaya appeared in a video, saying that God gave them this land, and it is theirs now.
Settler attacks continue to escalate, although senior army officials have warned the political echelon that the West Bank is on the verge of a third intifada, due to the actions of Israeli officials and supported settler attacks.
The Israeli army has repeatedly warned the political echelon that the situation in the West Bank is worrying and may explode at any moment.
The commander of the Israeli army's Central Command, Avi Ballut, told the prime minister, in a meeting held last week, that the escalation of "national crime" carried out by groups of settlers is a spark that could ignite everything.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that what is happening in the West Bank will finally explode in the face of Israel.
Huckabee's visit to Turmusaya is not the first of its kind in the West Bank. Last year, Huckabee visited the Palestinian village of Taybeh, located east of Ramallah in the West Bank, a Christian town that has been subject to settler attacks.
Huckabee refers to the West Bank by its biblical name (Judea and Samaria), which is the name used by the Israeli government. But the US government did not officially adopt it.
Huckabee pointed out that “the Bible” is the reason for calling the West Bank “Judea and Samaria.” Adding: “The reason I use the terms (Judea and Samaria) is that they are the ancient biblical terms for this land. Eighty percent of the events (of the Bible) occurred in the era of Judea and Samaria.” He added - according to the Times of Israel - that “the West Bank is an ambiguous term to me.”
While this was Huckabee's first visit to Turmusaya, he has visited the nearby settlement of Shilo at least twice since 2025.
