Clashes in Damascus Suburb Leave Nine Dead Amid Sectarian Tensions

Sectarian clashes in the outskirts of Damascus have led to the deaths of at least nine individuals and raised concerns over escalating tensions within the community.

Deadly clashes fueled by sectarian tensions erupted on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus, killing at least nine people, according to Syrian officials and a war monitoring group on Tuesday. The violence began late Monday night in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, known for its significant Druse minority population, following the spread of an audio clip on social media that allegedly featured a Druse cleric insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Local Druse leaders promptly denied the allegations made against the cleric, and the Syrian Interior Ministry stated its preliminary findings indicated that he bore no responsibility for the incident and called for calm among the populace. Nevertheless, unrest escalated, prompting fighters in armored vehicles to gather outside Jaramana and commence shelling the area, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitoring organization based in Britain. Heavy gun battles were also reported.

The contentious audio clip sparked protests in various cities, some of which incited violence directed at the Druse community, according to the Observatory's findings. Although the identities of those involved in the attack on Jaramana remain unclear, local Druse religious authorities issued a statement holding the government “fully responsible for what transpired and for any further deterioration of the situation.” The clashes not only resulted in casualties but also left an additional 17 individuals wounded.