Druze militia leader wounded in 'assassination attempt' in southern Syria

A prominent Druze leader in southern Syria was wounded Saturday evening after an alleged assassination attempt.

Sheikh Laith Al-Balous - son of Wahid Al-Balous, who founded the Rijal al-Karama or 'Men of Dignity' militia movement – was shot in the left thigh after coming under fire as he drove in his car. His wife and mother were with him at the time.

He was treated at a hospital in Suweida.

#عاجل | شبكة #السويداء 24:
📌 أنباء عن تعرض الشيخ ليث البلعوس لمحاولة اغتيال بعد إطلاق النار على سيارة كان فيها مع والدته

📌 المعلومات الأولية تشير إلى إسعاف البلعوس للمشفى بعد إصابته بطلقات نارية في قدميه#تلفزيون_سوريا pic.twitter.com/B1mWl2oSVt

— تلفزيون سوريا (@syr_television) May 13, 2023

Sources told The New Arab’s sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that Al-Balous "was subjected to a failed assassination attempt, especially since he has many enemies, particularly the Syrian regime apparatus and factions loyal to it".

In a hit list leaked two years ago by the Syrian regime's military security branch, Al-Balous was one of the top targets, the sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Al-Balous left the 'Men of Dignity' in 2015 following the assassination of his father in a car bombing in September of that year. He formed his own group called 'The Sheikh of Dignity Forces.'

They have acted as the main armed faction protecting Suweida during Syria’s brutal war.

Suweida, considered the heartland of Syria’s Druze minority, has managed to largely distance itself from much of the Syrian conflict as the Druze population has held a historic autonomy.

But relations between them and the regime have worsened in recent years over security and economic issues.

Armed gangs operate with little response from the regime, leading residents to suspect that the gangs work on the regime's orders. This has led to frequent armed clashes.

For years, the 'Men of Dignity' have demanded an end to the drafting of men from Suweida into the regime’s army, the release of local residents from prisons, allowing international aid access to the province, and the removal of the regime's security services from the area.

They also want all Iran-backed militias expelled from the region, claiming that Iran seeks to expand its foothold in the area.