Syrian Druze leaders slam ‘unjustified armed attack’ after 4 said killed in clashes with security forces

Syrian Druze leaders condemn an “unjustified armed attack” overnight on the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, after clashes with security forces that a war monitor said killed at least four Druze fighters.

Jaramana’s Druze religious leadership in a statement condemns “the unjustified armed attack” that “targeted innocent civilians and terrorized” residents, adding that the Syrian authorities bore “full responsibility for the incident and for any further developments or worsening of the crisis.”

A Jaramana resident told AFP they heard gunfire and shelling during the clashes, which lasted around half an hour.

“Heavy clashes erupted in Jaramana after security forces and affiliated gunmen stormed” areas of the mostly Druze and Christian suburb, after “the circulation of an audio recording, attributed to a Druze citizen, containing religious insults,” said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, adding that at least four Druze fighters were killed.