Click to see full-size image. (Syrian Arab News Agency)
Heavy clashes broke out in a suburb of the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on April 29, between local fighters from the Druze religious minority and forces affiliated with the Islamist-led interim government.
The clashes in the suburb of Jaramana, located some three kilometers to the southeast of Damascus, broke out after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man attacking Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. The clip angered many Sunni Muslims who took to the streets to protest in several parts of the country, with some even demanding “the extermination of Druze.”
The audio was attributed to Druze cleric Marwan Kiwan, who later denied the accusation in a video posted to social networks.
“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.”
From its side, the Interior Ministry said in a statement it was investigating the audio, adding that its initial probe showed the cleric was not responsible. The ministry urged people to abide by the law and not to act in a way that undermines security. It also deployed security forces around Jaramana in an attempt to stop the clashes, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the clashes claimed the lives of six Jaramana locals and left at least 15 others wounded. At least three pro-government fighters were also killed, according to the London-based monitoring group.
While the fiercest clashes took place in Jaramana, exchange of fire between pro-government fighters and Druze locals was also reported in the nearby towns of Sahnaya and Kanaker with heavy weapons, including mortars and anti-aircraft guns, being used.
Amid the deadly clashes, Israeli fighter jets and combat drones were reported spotted flying over Jaramana and nearby areas.
The clashes also led to tensions in the Druze-majority governorate of al-Suwayda, where local factions which refused to disarm after the fall of the Assad regime last December amassed thousands of heavily-armed fighters.
Druze fighters, including those from Jaramana, played a key role in the final assault on Damascus. However, they were sidelined by the Islamists who took over the country.
Since then, tensions between the minority group and the government have been on the rise. Government forces were confronted by Druze fighters while attempting to enter al-Suwayda on new year’s eve.
In March, a more serious escalation took place when government forces surrounded Jaramana and threatened to attack Druze fighters guarding the city. However, the situation was defused after Israel threatened to defend the city, citing the historic relation between its own Druze population and those in Syria.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have since publicly warned the Syrian government not to harm the Druze.
Druze leaders, including the spiritual head of the group in Syria Hikmat al-Hijri, later took a more bold stance in the face of the government, first rejecting the constitution decree which gave interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa absolute powers, then criticizing the government formed later for its lack of inclusivity.
The clashes near Damascus will likely push the Druze to take a more radical stance. This shows how the inability and unwillingness of Syria’s Islamist rulers to build meaningful relations with the minorities, whether Druze, Alawites, Christians or Kurds, is fragmenting the country.
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