Barrack claims 90% of Syria's captagon trade starts in Sweida
The US envoy says Druze militias are funding weapons with drug revenue while accusing a local leader of using perceived Israeli ties to split the community.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Tom Barrack, the US special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, said that 90 percent of the captagon trade in Syria flows from the province of Sweida to Daraa. He made the claim in an interview with Mario Nawfal, which aired on X on Friday. Barrack described the region as a global hub for manufacturing and selling the drug, comparing the production process to making methamphetamine.
The envoy linked this economic activity to local armed groups. Barrack stated that Druze factions in the area use revenue from the illicit trade to purchase weapons. He argued that this financial base allows them to arm themselves effectively, creating a cycle of violence in southern Syria.
Barrack directed sharp criticism at a prominent Druze spiritual leader in Sweida. He alleged that the sheikh exploits the perception of Israeli backing and American alignment to target other members of the Druze community. Although Barrack did not name the individual in the interview, the comments align with growing tensions surrounding Hikmat al-Hijri. Al-Hijri opposes the authority of Damascus and has called for full independence for the region.
The friction between factions 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. Barrack said this symbolic gesture highlighted the complex dynamics at play. He clarified that his concern was not the state of Israel itself, but the specific use of that image by a local leader.
Barrack rejected the idea that Washington explicitly supports the sheikh, describing such claims as absolutely wrong. In response to the envoy's accusations, the Bashan administration issued a statement expressing anger and condemnation. The group denied that Jabal Bashan is a center for captagon production. They argued that the community has historically fought against smuggling networks and has paid a high personal cost, including the sacrifice of young men, in that struggle.
Al-Hijri declared in May 2026 that the move toward self-determination is irreversible. He emphasized the goal of establishing a fully independent administration for Jabal Bashan, distinct from the government in Damascus. Barrack noted that Israel has framed its military interventions in southern Syria as efforts to protect the Druze. This includes strikes against Syrian government forces in Sweida in July 2025.
The envoy observed that Syria has exercised restraint in response to Israeli incursions. He warned that aggressive retaliation could trigger a wider conflict. Barrack said Damascus has been patient in allowing Israel to maintain a buffer zone. He pointed to five rounds of border and boundary talks that began in Paris in May 2024. The envoy expressed confidence that the two nations will reach a final understanding despite continuing mistrust.
