Sectarian clashes leave 13 dead near Damascus amid rising tensions

Syrian authorities have launched an investigation into deadly sectarian violence that claimed the lives of 13 people in Jaramana, a town near Damascus predominantly inhabited by members of the Druze minority.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Interior Ministry vowed to identify and prosecute those responsible for the unrest. The incident underscores ongoing challenges for Syria’s new rebel-led government, which took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. The leadership has struggled to ensure the safety of the country's minority groups, despite emphasizing unity and inclusion.

The confrontation erupted after an audio recording, allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad and attributed to a Druze figure, went viral on social media. This provoked an armed reaction from Sunni militants in neighboring Maliha and other surrounding areas, who advanced toward Jaramana.

The Interior Ministry reported intermittent gunfire between armed groups and said security forces intervened to disperse the violence and protect civilians. Among the victims were two members of the General Security Service, a new force largely made up of ex-rebels, as well as six Druze defenders and three attackers, according to both official statements and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK.

Druze leaders in Jaramana condemned the assault and rejected the authenticity of the controversial recording, labeling it a deliberate attempt to create discord. Druze leader Marwan Kiwan publicly denied any involvement, stating that the audio was fabricated to spark conflict among Syrians.

Officials continue to investigate the source of the recording and have appealed for restraint.

This episode adds to an already volatile atmosphere in Syria. Just last month, clashes between Alawite loyalists and security forces led to vigilante killings in northern regions like Tartous and Latakia. Syria’s nearly 14-year-long civil war fractured the country along sectarian lines, prompting communities like the Druze to take up arms for self-defense.

Although the new administration in Damascus has called for all armed groups to operate under central command, Druze militias remain defiant, citing insufficient state protection from hostile elements.