Youssef Jarbou

Youssef Jarbou is a Syrian Druze religious leader who has served as one of the spiritual leaders of the Druze community in Syria since 20 December 2012, following the death of his cousin and predecessor, Hussein Jarbou, who was preceded by Ahmed Jarbu. A member of a family that has held this religious office for over three centuries in Jabal al-Arab, Jarbou wields significant religious and social influence within the Druze community, particularly in the Suwayda Governorate.

Jarbou is widely recognized for his firm support of the regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Unlike the other two Druze sheikhs, Hikmat al-Hijri and Hammoud al-Hinnawi, who occasionally sided with anti-government protests,

Jarbou and fellow Druze spiritual leader Hammoud al-Hanawi were sidelined by rival Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al-Hijri following the July 2025 violence in Suwayda, allegedly facing house arrest under threat of death, and subsequently making public statements consistent with al-Hijri's political positions.