Damarcus: Deadly sectarian violence erupted on Tuesday in Jaramana, a predominantly Druze town southeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to local rescue workers and security sources. The violence reportedly stemmed from a voice recording in which a Druze man was allegedly heard cursing the Prophet Mohammad, prompting anger and retaliation from armed Sunni men.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of religious and sectarian tensions gripping Syria in the aftermath of the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebel factions. Since seizing power in Damascus in December, the new leadership has installed its own administrative and security structures, raising anxieties among minority communities. These concerns intensified following the killing of hundreds of Alawites in March in apparent retaliation for prior assaults carried out by Assad loyalists.
According to security sources, the violence began overnight when gunmen from Maliha and other Sunni-majority towns gathered near Jaramana. Exchanges of small and medium arms fire resulted in significant casualties, including the deaths of two members of Syria’s General Security Service—a newly formed force largely composed of former rebels.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Mustafa al-Abdo denied that Jaramana was attacked by armed militants. “Instead,” he stated, “groups of civilians, enraged by the voice recording, staged a protest that came under fire from Druze factions.” He added that an official investigation has been launched to determine the origin of the recording. The Interior Ministry has appealed for calm and urged citizens not to let religious sensitivities spiral into violence or property destruction.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation are underway. Druze elders reportedly met with local security officials in hopes of curbing further bloodshed. Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou called for restraint, stating: “What was said by a few individuals against our Prophet represents only them and is rejected by us and all of society.” He emphasized the need for both Druze and Sunni communities to resist provocations aimed at deepening sectarian divides.
Throughout Syria’s 14-year conflict, the Druze—a religious minority with roots in Islam—have largely taken up arms to defend their communities. Although the current leadership in Damascus has demanded that all armed factions submit to central control, Druze fighters have refused, citing the government’s failure to shield them from extremist threats.
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Local Druze leaders have held the government accountable for Tuesday’s incident. “The authorities are responsible for preserving security,” said Rabei Munzir, a community activist in Jaramana, speaking to Reuters. He cautioned that continued government inaction could lead to more unrest.
The violence also reignited regional concerns. Israel, which is home to thousands of Druze citizens and occupies the Golan Heights—seized from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War—has previously stated its willingness to intervene militarily in Syria to protect Druze populations.
As tensions simmer, the episode underscores the fragility of Syria’s sectarian landscape and the mounting pressure on the new leadership to prevent the country from descending into deeper communal conflict.
