Mick Hartley

From MEMRI TV. 

On July 16, 2025, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) published on its Facebook page a video showing a Syrian soldier wearing an ISIS patch on his body armor. In the video, the soldier said that the Ansar Al‑Tawhid Brigades of the Syrian 82nd Division were preparing to enter the Druze city of Sweida in order to "purify it" from what he called the "filth" of Druze leader Hikmat Al‑Hijri and his followers.

Syrian Soldier: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, and Compassionate, prayers and salutations upon our Prophet and Muhammad. Right now, the Ansar Al-Tawhid Brigades of the 82nd Division are preparing to enter the city of Sweid, in order to purify it from the filth of [Druze leader Hikmat] Al-Hiiri and his followers. Oh Allah, give us success."

For the BBC, meanwhile, this is just "sectarian violence", with the nice Syrian government intervening to calm things down:

The Syrian presidency has announced an "immediate ceasefire" in the southern city of Suweida to try to bring an end to a week of sectarian violence that has left hundreds dead.

There have been chaotic gun battles on city streets between the local Bedouin tribesmen and the Druze community, with both accused of atrocities. Graphic footage shows bodies strewn in the streets."

"This moment requires unity of ranks and complete cooperation in order to overcome what we are all going through," Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said.

A bit on the hot-blooded side, these Bedouin tribesmen. Mind you, these Druze chappies are just as bad. Heigh-ho.