Syria Envoy: Captagon Trade Fuels Druze Militias

US special envoy Tom Barrack has linked the economic power of Druze armed groups in southern Syria to the manufacture and sale of captagon.

In an interview with Mario Nawfal published on X on Friday, Barrack stated that the region stretching from Sweida to Daraa functions as a global hub for the illicit drug. He compared the local production process to the manufacturing of methamphetamine. According to the envoy, the revenue generated from this trade enables Druze factions to purchase weapons effectively.

Barrack placed these remarks within a wider critique of local leadership. He identified a prominent Druze spiritual leader in Sweida as the primary source of friction. Although the envoy did not name the individual explicitly, the comments align with growing tensions surrounding Hikmat al-Hijri. Al-Hijri, who opposes Damascus's authority, has called for Israeli support and advocated for full independence from the Syrian government. Barrack argued that this sheikh uses the perception of backing from Tel Aviv and Washington to target other members of the Druze community.

The envoy firmly rejected claims that Washington explicitly supports the sheikh, calling such notions absolutely wrong. The tension in the region became visible earlier this month when supporters of al-Hijri raised Israeli flags during a rally in Sweida. The gathering marked the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks, a symbolic act that highlighted the complex dynamics within the area.

The Bashan administration, affiliated with al-Hijri, issued a statement expressing profound anger and unequivocal condemnation of the accusations. The group denied that Jabal Bashan serves as a center for captagon production. They argued that the community has historically fought on the front lines against smuggling networks and that young men have sacrificed their lives to eradicate the illicit trade.

Al-Hijri declared in May 2026 that the move toward self-determination for Jabal Bashan is irreversible. His goal is to establish a fully independent administration distinct from the government in Damascus. Barrack noted that Israel has repeatedly framed its military interventions in southern Syria as efforts to protect the Druze, including strikes against Syrian government forces in Sweida in July 2025.

Despite ongoing mistrust, Barrack expressed confidence that Israel and Syria will reach a final understanding. He pointed to five rounds of border talks that began in Paris in May 2024. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has stated he does not desire a confrontation with Israel, though Israel remains wary of his past with the al-Nusra Front and the presence of foreign fighters in border divisions.