More than a dozen killed in Druze town near Damascus in latest sectarian clashes

DAMASCUS — More than a dozen people were killed in a predominantly Druze town near the Syrian capital on Tuesday in clashes sparked by a purported recording of a Druze man cursing the Prophet Mohammad which angered Sunni gunmen, rescuers and security sources said.

The fighting marked the latest episode of deadly sectarian violence in Syria, where fears among minorities have been swelling since Islamist-led rebels ousted former leader Bashar al-Assad from power in December, installing their own government and security forces.

Those fears spiked after the killings of hundreds of Alawites in March in apparent revenge for an attack by Assad loyalists.

The clashes began overnight when gunmen from the nearby town of Maliha and other predominantly Sunni areas converged on the mostly Druze town of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, security sources said.

The fighting, with small and medium arms fire, left 13 people dead, according to local rescue workers.

Among the dead were two members of Syria’s General Security Service, a new security force composed mostly of former rebels, according to the interior ministry spokesperson, Mustafa al-Abdo.

Reportedly five killed last night in Damascus' Druze area Jaramana during clashes between pro-government gunmen and armed Druze factions inside Jaramana. Unclear to me if the fighting has stopped or if there are still clashes ongoing. Will update. pic.twitter.com/QcKSrUrbfm

— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) April 29, 2025

Abdo denied that armed gunmen had attacked the town, saying instead that groups of civilians angered by the voice recording had staged a protest that came under fire from Druze groups.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the origin of the voice recording and called for calm, urging citizens not to let emotions lead to violence or damage to public property.

“We affirm our keenness to pursue those involved and hold them to account,” it said.

Druze elders met with security forces in a bid to prevent further escalation, a Syrian security source said.

“What was said by a few individuals against our Prophet represents only them and is rejected by us and all of society,” Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou said, calling on both communities to reject efforts to fuel sectarian divisions.

The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric, who later denied being involved.

Druze cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio.

“I categorically deny that the audio was made by me,” Kiwan said in the video. “I did not say that and whoever made it is an evil man who wants to incite strife between components of the Syrian people.”

The Interior Ministry said it was investigating the audio clip.

Syrians cross a street in the mostly Druze and Christian Jaramana suburb of Damascus on April 29, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

Syria’s nearly 14-year war carved the country into various zones of influence, with the Druze – an Arab minority who practice a religion originally derived from Islam – arming themselves to defend their own towns.

The new Islamist-led leadership in Damascus has called for all arms to fall under their authority, but Druze fighters have resisted, saying Damascus has failed to guarantee their protection from hostile militants.

Community leaders blamed the government for failing to prevent Tuesday’s attack and warned that it would bear responsibility for any future repercussions.

“The authorities are responsible for preserving security,” Rabei Munzir, a local Druze activist in Jaramana, told Reuters.

Neighboring Israel has said that it was willing to intervene in Syria to protect the Druze, thousands of whom also live in Israel.

Following Assad’s ouster, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes on military bases that belonged to the previous regime and moved forces into a UN-monitored demilitarized zone on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. The IDF describes its presence in southern Syria’s buffer zone as a temporary and defensive measure, though Defense Minister Israel Katz said that troops will remain deployed in the area “indefinitely.”