This is CBS Eye on the World.

Here's John Batchelor.

This is CBS, I on the world.

I'm John Batchel.

I welcome Bill Raja, my colleague and co-host of the Foundation for Defense of Democracy,

a senior fellow,

and his colleague at FTT, Ahmad Sherari, who's watching darkness visible Syria for us.

When last we spoke of the Druze of Syria in the Suwaita province at the southernmost Syria,

they were under existential threat either from the government in Damascus,

headed by former Al-Qaeda members or by the neighborhood gangs.

We now turn to a headline that requires much attention from Ahmad.

Instability grows in Syria's Drew's heartland as quote National Guard militia arrests opponents Ahmed a very good evening to you the Druze were terrified and frightened and threatened

in their homes when last we spoke of them what National Guard and where did it come from

good evening to you good evening John so unless we spoke of them. What National Guard, and where did it come from?

Good evening to you.

Good evening, John.

So after the events of July, a number of Jews factions unified into what is called the National Guard.

And it's currently led by or spiritually guided by one of the spiritual leaders of the Druze community in Syria,

named Higmat al-Hijri.

And since August, this National Guard acts or is acting as the provider of security in the region.

There was also a creation of what is called a legal committee to administer the civilian or the civil affairs in the province.

The events of last week was two or five members of the Druze community were arrested by the National Guard.

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