Syria monitor says 9 killed in sectarian clashes as govt vows accountability

A Syria warfare monitor on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) mentioned 9 folks, together with six Druze fighters, have been killed in sectarian clashes close to Damascus, as authorities blamed “gunmen” and vowed to pursue these concerned.

The in a single day clashes, sparked by the circulation on social media of an audio recording deemed blasphemous, have been met with condemnation from leaders of the Druze non secular minority.

The violence follows sectarian massacres final month within the Alawite coastal heartland that have been the worst bloodshed since Islamist-led forces overthrew longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December.

Whereas in search of to current a extra average picture to the world, the brand new authorities should additionally take care of pressures from radical Islamists inside their ranks.

“Heavy clashes erupted in Jaramana after safety forces and affiliated gunmen stormed” areas of the principally Druze and Christian suburb of Jaramana, mentioned the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

It added that the clashes erupted after “the circulation of an audio recording, attributed to a Druze citizen, containing non secular insults”.

AFP was unable to substantiate the recording’s authenticity.

The Britain-based monitor, which depends on a community of sources inside Syria, mentioned six Druze fighters from Jaramana and three “attackers” have been killed.

The inside ministry reported “intermittent clashes between teams of gunmen”, including that safety forces “went to interrupt up the clashes and shield the residents”.

It reported unspecified casualties together with among the many safety forces.

“We affirm our keenness to pursue these concerned and maintain them to account,” it mentioned in a press release, including that investigations have been additionally ongoing to establish who was behind the recording “insulting our Prophet Mohammed”.

An AFP correspondent noticed armed males deployed on the street to Jaramana and at its entrances.

‘Full accountability’

“We won’t be lenient in bringing to justice anybody who contributes to sowing chaos and undermining safety,” the ministry assertion added.

Jaramana’s Druze non secular management in a press release condemned “the unjustified armed assault” that “focused harmless civilians and terrorised” residents.

“We strongly condemn any insult towards” the Prophet Mohammed, the assertion mentioned, calling the “fabricated” audio recording an try to “sow strife and division”.

It mentioned that the Syrian authorities bore “full accountability for the incident and for any additional developments or worsening of the disaster”.

Native residents informed AFP they heard gunfire and shelling in a single day however that preventing had subsided by morning.

A Jaramana resident, requesting anonymity attributable to security issues, informed AFP that “we have been trapped in our houses because the sound of intermittent gunfire continued”.

“The kids haven’t gone to high school and the streets of our neighbourhood are empty this morning,” the resident added.

Riham Waqqaf, a 33-year-old humanitarian employee, mentioned she was staying dwelling along with her husband and kids.

She expressed fear that Jaramana “would possibly flip right into a battlefield… I’m afraid of the scenario escalating additional”.

Fighter Jamal, declining to offer his full identify, mentioned native armed teams had requested Jaramana residents to remain dwelling “for his or her security”.

“Jaramana has not witnessed a day like this in a few years,” he added.

The world can be dwelling to households displaced by Syria’s battle which erupted in 2011.

Coastal violence

Safety forces deployed in Jaramana final month following clashes between safety forces and native gunmen tasked with defending the world, the Observatory had mentioned.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz at the moment warned the brand new Islamist-led authorities not “to hurt the Druze” minority, which can be unfold throughout Lebanon and Israel.

Druze leaders rejected the Israeli warning and declared their loyalty to a united Syria.

The clashes in Jaramana mark the most recent take a look at for the Islamist authorities, who’ve roots within the Al-Qaeda jihadist group however have vowed inclusive rule within the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic nation.

The authorities have been in search of to steer Western capitals that the jihadist origins of the forces who toppled Assad are confined to the previous, and that crippling worldwide sanctions must be lifted.

Some nations together with the US have mentioned they might wait to see how the brand new authorities train their energy and guarantee human rights.

Druze representatives have been negotiating with authorities on an settlement to combine their armed teams into the brand new nationwide military.

Final month’s coastal violence noticed safety forces and allied teams kill greater than 1,700 civilians, principally Alawites, the Observatory had mentioned.

The federal government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the offensive that toppled Assad, accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence by attacking safety forces, and has launched an inquiry.