DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Early Tuesday, clashes erupted in the suburb of Jaramana, located in southern Damascus, between local gunmen from the minority Druze sect and pro-government forces. Reports from both a war monitor and an activist group indicated that the violence resulted in at least four fatalities. The clashes were ignited by the circulation of an audio clip on social media, which contained disparaging remarks about Islam's Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze cleric.
The cleric, Marwan Kiwan, publicly denied any involvement with the controversial audio. In a video shared on social media, he asserted, “I categorically deny that the audio was made by me. I did not say that and whoever made it is an evil man who wants to incite strife between components of the Syrian people.” This denial came after the clip incited anger among Sunni Muslims, further escalating tensions within Druze neighborhoods in Jaramana.
The Syrian Interior Ministry announced that it is conducting an investigation into the audio clip and indicated that preliminary findings suggest that Kiwan was not responsible for it. The ministry urged citizens to respect the law and refrain from actions that could compromise public safety.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violent clashes led to the deaths of at least four individuals. However, the activist media collective, Suwayda 24, reported a higher toll, stating that five people were killed and 12 others wounded. In recent weeks, Syrian Druze gunmen have also faced off against government security forces in Jaramana, indicating rising tensions in the region.
This unrest in Jaramana follows an assertion by Israel's Defense Ministry on March 1 that its military had been ordered to prepare for potential defense of the area, alleging that the Druze minority, which the Israeli government pledged to protect, was “under attack” from Syrian forces.
The Druze sect is a religious minority that traces its origins back to the 10th century as an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Of the approximately 1 million Druze worldwide, more than half reside in Syria, with significant populations also in Lebanon and Israel. This includes communities in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Middle East War and subsequently annexed in 1981.
Moreover, Syria has witnessed a series of internal clashes, particularly since President Bashar Assad's fall from power in early December. The most severe internal conflict occurred last month in the coastal region, involving members of the Alawite sect, to which Assad belonged. These clashes have reportedly resulted in over 1,000 deaths, including numerous civilians, with accompanying acts of revenge killings. However, these figures have yet to be independently verified by the Associated Press.
This ongoing unrest in Syria underscores the fragility of the country's social fabric, as sectarian tensions resurface amid the protracted conflict. As various groups vie for power and legitimacy, incidents like those in Jaramana suggest an increasingly volatile landscape where inter-sectarian strife can quickly spiral out of control.
