Damascus: At least nine people were killed in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana following violent clashes between pro-government forces and Druze gunmen, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This marks another surge in sectarian unrest in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in December.
The confrontation began after an audio recording, allegedly featuring offensive remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, spread on social media. The message was linked to Druze cleric Marwan Kiwan, who has since publicly denied any involvement, calling the recording a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict between Syria's religious communities.
In response, Syria’s Interior Ministry launched an investigation and announced that initial findings support Kiwan’s denial. The ministry urged citizens to uphold the law and avoid actions that could threaten public security.
According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Mustafa al-Abdo, two members of Syria’s General Security Service were killed during efforts to stop the fighting. The Syrian Observatory reported that six Druze fighters from Jaramana and three attackers also lost their lives.
The Druze are a religious minority with roots in a 10th-century offshoot of Ismaili Shia Islam. While most Druze live in Syria, significant populations exist in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights, which Israel annexed in 1981.
Last month, Syria also witnessed its deadliest internal violence since Assad’s removal, as clashes erupted among Alawite factions in the coastal region. Over 1,000 people, including many civilians, were killed in retaliatory attacks, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
Despite efforts by Syria’s new leadership to unify armed groups under a single command, sectarian tensions persist. Some Druze fighters remain wary of integration, citing concerns over security and potential marginalization by the opposition forces that toppled Assad.
