Men of Dignity
| Men of Dignity[1] Sheikhs of Dignity[2] | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Wahid al-Balous (2013/2014-2015) † [3] Ra’fat al-Balous[4] Yahya al-Hajjar (February 2017-present)[5] |
| Spokesman | Bassem Abu Fakhr[6] |
| Dates of operation | 2013[7] or 2014[8]-present |
| Country | Syria |
| Headquarters | As-Suwayda |
| Active regions | As-Suwayda Governorate[9] |
| Part of | Southern Operations Room[10] |
| Allies | Al-Jabal Brigade Eagles of the Whirlwind[11] |
| Opponents | Islamic State[11] Al-Nusra Front[12] Raji Falhout group[13]  Syrian Arab Republic[14] |
| Battles and wars | |
| Flag | .svg) |
The Men of Dignity (Arabic: رجال الكرامة, romanized: Rijāl al-Karāma) is a Druze militia operating primarily in the al-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria.
History
[edit]Wahid al-Balous, who was the founder of the organization, was assassinated by a car bomb in Suwayda in September 2015.[18]
One of his sons, Laith al-Balous, was expelled from the Men of Dignity in 2015 after his father's death.[5]
Laith's brother, Fahd al-Balous,[19] and Laith are aligned with the Guest House of Dignity, with Laith serving as the leader.[20]
Leadership
[edit]The group was originally led by Wahid. Two months after his assassination, his brother Ra'fat assumed leadership, though he would cede the position to Yahya al-Hajjar as a result of injuries which he sustained in the assassination.[18]
Activities
[edit]The Men of Dignity allied with Al-Jabal Brigade and the armed wing of the Syrian Socialist National Party, Eagles of the Whirlwind, in July 2018 while fighting against the Islamic State.[11]
Following multiple kidnappings by the Military Intelligence Directorate-affiliated Raji Falhout group, led by Raji Falhout, the Men of Dignity and several other Druze militias clashed with the Raji Falhout group in July 2022 and took over their headquarters.[13]
The Men of Dignity engaged in combat with the Assad-aligned military in the city of Suwayda during the 2024 Southern Syria offensive, resulting in at least two deaths and four wounded.[14]
The group issued a joint statement with the Al-Jabal Brigade in January 2025 emphasizing that it was prepared to integrate into a new "military body", following the December 2024 fall of the Assad regime.[21]
At least one member of the organization, Wajdi al-Hajj Ali, died in the April 2025 Rif Dimashq clashes.[17]
The office of Suwayda governor Mustafa al-Bakour was stormed on 21 May 2025 by armed criminals who successfully released Raghib Qarqout, a convicted car thief. The Men of Dignity provided cover for al-Bakour's exit, while the Al-Jabal Brigade engaged with the criminals.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Al Nofal, Walid (13 October 2022). "Is Damascus reaping the fruits of local factions' campaign against military security-linked 'gangs' in Suwayda?". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ Jamal, Moutasem; Wilkofsky, Dan (25 June 2015). "'The regime doesn't dare to respond to the Sheikhs of Dignity aggressively'". Syria Direct. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Paul McLoughlin (8 September 2015). "Druze leader's death brings home ghosts of Syria's war". The New Arab. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Al Shami, Ishtar (12 October 2022). "Insight into As-Suwayda's Position in the Syrian Situation". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b Al Nofal, Walid (18 January 2023). "Disputes between Suwayda's Men of Dignity and Laith al-Balous: A son searching for his father's legacy?". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "المتحدث باسم "رجال الكرامة": حديثي مجتزأ والحماية من إسرائيل طعن بالإرث الوطني". Syria TV (in Arabic). 10 April 2025. Archived from the original on 10 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Druze Group 'Rijal al-Karama' Rejects Disarmament, Calls for Weapons Regulation in Sweida". Asharq Al-Awsat. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ Edwards, Madeline (2 January 2025). "Joy and Trepidation Among Syria's Druze". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
That is the man who, in 2014, founded the Men of Dignity movement, which would emerge as Sweida's main group taking up arms against the regime.
- ^ Chehayeb, Kareem; Sanadiki, Omar (10 March 2025). "Syria's Druze seek a place in a changing nation, navigating pressures from the government and Israel". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Levine, Avraham (19 December 2024). "Rebel factions in southern Syria – Southern Operations Room (SOR)". Alma Research and Education Center. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (27 July 2018). "The Suwayda' Attacks: Interview". Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ "Syria Car Bomb Kills Key Anti-Regime Druze Cleric". Naharnet. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ a b Walid Al Nofal (27 July 2022). "Damascus silent as military security-linked 'Falhout group' is uprooted in Suwayda". Syria Direct. Translated by Mateo Nelson. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Syrian forces launch major offensive in Homs as opposition seizes more land". China Daily. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (14 October 2016). "Labawat al-Jabal: A Druze Female Militia in Suwayda' Province". Syria Comment. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Özkizilcik, Ömer (1 April 2025). "Israel is making a miscalculation in southern Syria. Here is why". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
However, his rhetoric quickly lost credibility when Rijal al-Karama and Rijal al-Sheikh al-Karama deployed forces from Suwayda to Jaramana.
- ^ a b Muhammad, Malin (30 April 2025). "Clashes continue in Damascus suburbs amid widening security tensions". North Press Agency.
- ^ a b "When Syrian intelligence sparked discord in Suwayda – part 2". North Press Agency. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ al-Jeratli, Khaled (14 December 2022). "As-Suwayda tension shows new face of Syrian regime; risks of armed clash". Enab Baladi. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ al-Issa, Jana; Ibrahim, Hassan; Moghrabi, Yamen (1 September 2023). "Assad's patchworking tactics not effective; Syrians resurrect "2011 revolution"". Enab Baladi. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
- ^ "Two Druze rebel groups say they're ready to join new Syrian national army". Times of Israel. Agence France-Presse. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "As-Suwayda: Armed group storms Governor's office". Enab Baladi. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
