On 23 August 2025, amid a wave ofclashes and instability in Southern Syria, a number of armed groups in Suwayda issued statements declaring their merger under the umbrella of the "National Guard".
According to their founding declaration, the move was intended to create "an organized and solid force entrusted with protecting the mountain and its people".[5][6]
The groups emphasized their "absolute commitment to the decisions of the spiritual leadership represented bySheikhHikmat al-Hijri".[a]
The National Guard declared itself as the "official military institution representing the Druze community" in the governorate. Its announced primary objectives include:[5][6]
Unifying local armed factions into a single command structure.
Defending Suwayda and the Druze community against external threats.
The National Guard describes itself as a fully merged force rather than a loose coalition. Its leadership has pledged loyalty to the guidance of the Druze spiritual authority in Suwayda, represented by SheikhHikmat al-Hijri.[5][a] TheInstitute for the Study of War reported on 25 August that around 40 groups were united to form the National Guard.[8]
The National Guard has been described as a merger of the involved groups.[11]
According toEnab Baladi, other groups that later joined include "Men of Dignity,[b] the Unitarian Popular Resistance, Southern Shield Forces, Mountain Shield Forces, Lions of the Mountain Forces, Shield of Tawhid, Sahwat al-Khedr Shield, Mimas and Tal al-Lawz, Men of al-Lajat and Men of al-Kafr", while the 164th Brigade joined on 24 August.[13]
In October 2025, theInstitute for the Study of War reported that several Druze factions in Suwayda Governorate continued to join under the banner of the National Guard.[15]
A video published on 7 September 2025 published by the group shows over a dozen operational vehicles, many of which were mounted with weaponry and filled with combatants. Most firearms so far included seem to beIranian-produced.[16] At least oneAM-50 "Sayyad" anti-materiel sniper rifle was included, whose Sayyad variant was widely exported and proliferated after 2008 and continues to be commonly used by Syrian rebel groups.[16][17] This was due to their modification potential and in case of being properly maintained, their potential to outrange assault rifles. Studies of weaponry sold in these regions, however, shows poor maintenance.[18] There were multipleZU-23-2 autocannons, all of which were mounted toflatbed trucks, a weapon and mounting which is common for rebel groups and a mainstay ofSyrian Civil War weaponry.[16][19][20][21] NumerousKPV heavy machine guns were seen, also mounted to trucks.[16][20] They are also common in Syria, and are similar to theZU-23-2.[21] A number ofDShKM Type 54 variantheavy machine guns were in the National Guard's arsenal, again mounted to trucks.[16][20][22][23]
^The Men of Dignity Movement "initially declined to join the new military formation". Later however, they "issued a statement welcoming the announcement of local factions uniting under an "organized military body", describing it as a necessary step at a time when the Druze community is defending its existence "against covetous invaders".[12]
^abcNeville, Leigh (2018).Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Toyota War to Modern Special Forces. New Vanguard Ser. Peter Dennis. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.ISBN978-1-4728-2253-6.
Syria
Supreme Legal Committee in Suwayda