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Jabal el Druze, also known as Jebel al-Druze or Mountain of the Druze, is a high volcanic lava region in southern Syria, covering about 600 square miles (1,600 square kilometers).
The region is named after the Druze community, a religious minority group that is predominant in the area. The mountainous area became a center of Druze power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and later formed a semi-autonomous state under the French mandate after World War I.
The region is characterized by its basaltic plateaus intersected by numerous wadis and is populated mainly by small farming communities. Its dominant feature is the extinct volcano, Jabal el-Arab, standing at an altitude of 1800 meters and also known as Jabal al-Druze. The area is subject to a desert climate, with extremely cold winters and scorching hot summers. Agriculture is the primary economic activity, featuring crops such as olives, almonds, or cereals.
The main city in Jabal el Druze is As-Suwayda, which is also the administrative capital of As-Suwayda Governorate. The city and the surrounding region are known for their distinctive black Basalt architecture.
Due to its strategic location, the region has faced significant challenges in the ongoing Syrian Civil War, yet it has remained relatively stable compared to other parts of Syria.
The people of Jabal el Druze are known for their distinct culture, traditions, and their loyalty to their community. They also have a unique religion, known as the Druze religion, that originated in the 10th century as an offshoot of Shia Islam, but it has developed its own unique beliefs and practices over time.