Syrian Druze leader calls for international probe into last month’s Sweida violence

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A spiritual leader of Syria’s Druze community calls for an international investigation into last month’s clashes that left hundreds of people dead in southern Syria.

Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, whose fighters clashed with pro-government gunmen in Sweida province last month, also thanked US President Donald Trump, as well as Israel and Gulf Arab countries, for their help in ending the violence.

“Thanks to those who stood by righteousness,” Al-Hijri says in a televised speech.

Al-Hijri calls for an international and independent investigation into the clashes and argued that perpetrators should be referred to the International Criminal Court. He also calls for the deployment of international observer missions to protect civilians.

He thanks Trump for his support of minorities, and he thanks Israel for what he called a “humanitarian intervention,” which he says limited the extent of the massacres against the Druze.