Syria envoy: Captagon cash fuels Sweida militias

Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, stated on Friday that local Druze militias in southern Syria finance their weapons through the captagon trade. Speaking in an interview with commentator Mario Nawfal, which was published on X, Barrack described the region from Sweida to Daraa as a global hub for the drug's manufacture. He compared the production process to making methamphetamine and said the revenue allows the groups to arm themselves effectively.

The comments place pressure on Hikmat al-Hijri, a spiritual leader in Sweida who opposes Damascus. Al-Hijri has called for Israeli backing and full independence from the Syrian government. Barrack did not name him directly but accused the sheikh of using the perception of support from Tel Aviv and Washington to target other Druze. The envoy rejected claims that the US explicitly backs the leader, calling such notions absolutely wrong.

Tensions in the area rose earlier this month when al-Hijri's supporters raised Israeli flags during a rally in Sweida. The gathering marked the anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attacks. The Bashan administration, which is affiliated with al-Hijri, issued a statement condemning Barrack's remarks. The group denied that Jabal Bashan is a center for captagon production, noting that the community has sacrificed young men in the fight against smuggling networks.

Al-Hijri declared in May 2026 that the move toward self-determination for Jabal Bashan is irreversible. He aims to establish a fully independent administration separate from Damascus. Barrack pointed to the Druze communities in the Golan Heights and along the border, noting they have paid a high price as allies to the Israeli Defense Forces. Israel has framed its military interventions in southern Syria as efforts to protect these communities, including strikes in Sweida in July 2025.

Barrack observed that Syria has shown restraint in response to Israeli incursions. He warned that aggressive retaliation could trigger a wider conflict. Damascus has allowed Israel to maintain a perceived buffer zone while the Druze conduct themselves in ways some view as inappropriate. The envoy suggested this patience is a strategic choice to prevent the fire from exploding into a larger war.

Negotiations between the two nations continue as a process of building trust. The sides have held five rounds of border and boundary talks since beginning in Paris in May 2024. Barrack expressed confidence that they will reach a final understanding, noting that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa does not desire a confrontation with Israel. Israel remains wary of Syria's new leadership, citing Sharaa's past with the al-Nusra Front and the presence of foreign fighters near the border.