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Rudaw Net
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
13 dead in Syria's Sahnaya as sectarian clashes intensify: Monitor
Also in Syria 18 killed in clashes between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor Folklore ensemble promotes Kurdish culture, heritage at Damascus Opera House Syria's fragile stability in focus after violence in Druze-majority Damascus suburb Four Druze fighters dead in clashes with Syrian government forces: Monitor A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 13 fighters have been killed in intensifying sectarian clashes between Druze fighters and government-affiliated forces in southern Syria's Sahnaya town, a war monitor reported, amid anger over an audio recording allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed. 'The death toll in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya near Damascus has risen to 13, with around 15 others injured from both sides,' said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor. 11 government-affiliated security forces and two local Druze fighters are among the dead, the Observatory added. Israel, which has previously warned Damascus against targeting the Druze, said it struck an 'extremist group' threatening the community near Sahnaya, located 15 kilometers southwest of Damascus. 'The IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] carried out a warning action and struck the organization of an extremist group preparing to attack the Druze population in the town of Sahnaya,' said a joint statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. 'A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime – Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community,' the statement added. Violence broke out on Tuesday between Sunni and Druze locals after the circulation of an audio clip reportedly containing insults to the Prophet Mohammed. The recording, which surfaced online recently, was attributed to prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Marwan Kiwan – a claim 'categorically and staunchly' denied by the cleric. The audio prompted a mobilization of gunmen affiliated with the Syrian government in Damascus, who advanced toward Druze-majority areas and sparked clashes with Druze fighters, with both sides using small and medium weapons. A curfew has been imposed on Sahnaya in an effort to diffuse tensions, according to the Observatory. In nearby Jaramana, a majority Druze and Christian suburb of Damascus, at least 18 fighters have been killed in the clashes. On Tuesday, a senior Druze source in Jaramana told Rudaw correspondent Dilkhwaz Mohammed that armed men launched a multipronged push to enter the suburb from multiple directions, using the controversial audio as a pretext to target the area. Syria's interior ministry urged a probe to determine the source and context of the audio clip. It emphasized that preliminary findings 'do not conclusively link Sheikh Marwan Kiwan to the recording.' Investigative efforts are ongoing to identify the voice behind the audio and ensure that the responsible individual is brought to justice in accordance with Syrian law, the ministry stressed. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led the rebel coalition that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime in early December. Its then leader and now Syria's interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has repeatedly pledged to protect the rights of all Syrians. In December, the rebel coalition, including the HTS, agreed to merge into the Syrian defense ministry. The international community has expressed concern that the new Islamist authorities in Damascus may impose strict Islamic rule in Syria, threatening the country's minority groups, such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites. Following clashes in Jaramana in February, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Damascus to 'not harm the Druze,' and stressed that Syrian authorities would 'suffer the consequences' if they harmed the community. Syria's Druze, Christian, and Kurdish communities have expressed deep mistrust toward Damascus and rejected the interim constitution.
Asharq Al-Awsat
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Fake Audio Sparks Deadly Sectarian Clashes Near Damascus
Twelve people were killed in clashes that erupted early Tuesday near the town of Jaramana, a Druze-majority area on the southern outskirts of Damascus, amid rising sectarian tensions, residents and local sources said. In a statement, residents of Jaramana condemned what they described as prior 'sectarian incitement' that preceded the violence. They warned against 'falling into the trap of sedition, which serves only the enemies of Syria and its unity.' The statement, which denounced the sectarian rhetoric, called on authorities to launch an 'immediate and transparent investigation' and to hold accountable 'all those who took part in, incited, or orchestrated this crime.' The deadly clashes followed a wave of unrest triggered by a voice recording that circulated late Sunday into Monday, purportedly featuring Sheikh Marwan Kiwan from Sweida making derogatory remarks about Islamic holy figures. The recording sparked anger and sporadic unrest in university dormitories in both Damascus and Homs, raising fears of wider sectarian strife. Sheikh Kiwan later appeared in a video denying the voice was his and said the recording was fabricated to fuel sectarian division. His denial was backed by an investigation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior, which called on the public to 'respect public order and avoid any individual or collective actions that could endanger lives, property, or public security.' Violent clashes in the southern outskirts of Damascus left at least five people dead and several others wounded. Fighting broke out near the town of Jaramana after a hardline armed group launched a mortar attack from the direction of Maliha, targeting the al-Naseem checkpoint, residents said. Armed local groups in Jaramana responded, sparking several hours of clashes. According to preliminary reports, five young men from Jaramana were killed and eight others injured. Similar clashes erupted in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, another Druze-majority area, where local sources reported injuries among residents. In response to the violence, authorities imposed a curfew in Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, amid heightened security deployments and growing fears of further unrest. The Syrian authorities could take meaningful steps toward transitional justice even before a dedicated commission is formed, including arresting and prosecuting individuals involved in human rights violations, the head of the Syrian Network for Human Rights said. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fadel Abdul Ghany said the government has the ability to 'pursue and detain those implicated in rights abuses as a preparatory step toward accountability.' He cautioned against misconceptions about launching transitional justice efforts without adequate planning, saying, 'One of the key mistakes made recently was the demand to begin the transitional justice process immediately, without first identifying the necessary procedural steps to ensure the process is independent from the executive branch and inclusive of all segments of society.' To guarantee such independence, Abdul Ghany said the Transitional Justice Commission must be established by a legislative body, with clearly defined standards for appointing competent and impartial members. He added that the commission must operate under the judicial system, which itself must be independent. 'This requires time,' he said, 'because it involves setting clear criteria for forming a Supreme Judicial Council and a Constitutional Court that are completely independent from the executive authority.'
Rudaw Net
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
18 killed in clashes between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor
Also in Syria Folklore ensemble promotes Kurdish culture, heritage at Damascus Opera House Syria's fragile stability in focus after violence in Druze-majority Damascus suburb Four Druze fighters dead in clashes with Syrian government forces: Monitor Yazidi men freed from ISIS captivity, reunite with families after years of separation A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 18 people, mostly Druze fighters, have been killed in clashes that erupted with government forces in the majority Druze and Christian suburb of Jaramana near Damascus, after an audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed sparked violence, a war monitor reported on Wednesday. 'The death toll has reached 18 in a preliminary toll in Druze-majority areas near Damascus,' said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, adding that nine members of government-affiliated forces were also killed and injured. Violence broke out on Tuesday between Sunni and Druze locals after the circulation of an audio clip reportedly containing insults to the Prophet Mohammed. The recording, which surfaced online recently, was attributed to prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Marwan Kiwan – a claim 'categorically and staunchly' denied by the cleric. The audio prompted a mobilization of gunmen affiliated with the Syrian government in Damascus, who advanced toward Jaramana and sparked clashes with Druze fighters, with both sides using small and medium weapons. The Observatory added that the death toll 'is expected to increase due to critical injuries.' On Tuesday, a senior Druze source in Jaramana told Rudaw correspondent Dilkhwaz Mohammed that armed men launched a multipronged push to enter the suburb from multiple directions, using the controversial audio as a pretext to target the area. Syria's interior ministry urged a probe to determine the source and context of the audio clip. It emphasized that preliminary findings 'do not conclusively link Sheikh Marwan Kiwan to the recording.' Investigative efforts are ongoing to identify the voice behind the audio and ensure that the responsible individual is brought to justice in accordance with Syrian law, the ministry stressed.
Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
At least 10 dead in Syria after sectarian clashes in Druze suburb of Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — At least 10 people were killed on Tuesday after clashes broke out in a suburb of the Syrian capital between local gunmen belonging to the minority Druze sect and pro-government fighters, a war monitor and an activist group said. Syrian Druze gunmen have clashed in recent weeks with government security forces and pro-government gunmen in the southern Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Late Tuesday, government representatives and Jaramana dignitaries reached an agreement to end the fighting, compensate victims' families and work on bringing perpetrators to justice, according to a copy of the deal circulated in Jaramana and seen by The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear if the truce will hold for a long time as similar deals in the past collapsed afterward. The latest round of fighting broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. "I categorically deny that the audio was made by me,' Kiwan said. '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 in a statement it was investigating the audio clip, 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. The Druze religious leadership in Jaramana condemned the audio but blasted the 'unjustified armed attack' on the suburb. It urged the state to publicly clarify what happened. 'Why does this keep happening every now and then? It's as if there's no state or government in charge. They need to establish security checkpoints, especially in areas where there are tensions,' said Jaramana resident Abu Tarek Zaaour. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 10 people were killed, four of them attackers and six Jaramana residents. The activist media collective Suwayda24 said 11 people were killed and 12 were wounded. Rayan Maarouf, editor-in-chief of Suwayda24, said gunmen were holding the attacker's bodies and talks are on the way to hand them over. In late February, a member of the security forces entered the suburb and started shooting in the air, leading to an exchange of fire with local gunmen that left him dead. A day later, gunmen came from the Damascus suburb of Mleiha to Jaramana, where they clashed with Druze gunmen leaving one Druze fighter dead and nine other people wounded. On March 1, Israel's Defense Ministry said the military was instructed to prepare to defend Jaramana, asserting that the minority it has vowed to protect was 'under attack' by Syrian forces. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Over half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. The worst internal clashes in Syria since the fall of President Bashar Assad in early December occurred last month in the country's coastal region and involved members of the minority Alawite sect that the former president belonged to. The clashes between Assad loyalists and government forces were accompanied by revenge killings that left more than 1,000 people dead, including hundreds of civilians, according to a war monitor. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the figures.
Rudaw Net
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syria's fragile stability in focus after violence in Druze-majority Damascus suburb
Also in Syria Folklore ensemble promotes Kurdish culture, heritage at Damascus Opera House Four Druze fighters dead in clashes with Syrian government forces: Monitor Yazidi men freed from ISIS captivity, reunite with families after years of separation Damascus censures SDF 'calls for federalism' following Kurdish unity conference A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least 13 people - mostly from Syria's Druze community - were killed and 17 others injured in armed clashes that erupted early Tuesday in the Druze-majority city of Jaramana, southeast of Damascus, after a blasphemous audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad sparked violence. The deadly incident comes amid a broader surge in sectarian tensions in the country, including recent violence in Alawite-majority regions that left around 1,500 people dead, highlighting Syria's deepening communal fractures. The incident The violence broke out between Sunni and Druze locals after the circulation of blasphemous audio, reportedly containing insults to the Prophet of Islam Muhammad. The recording, which surfaced online within the past 48 hours, was attributed to prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Marwan Kiwan. In a video statement, Sheikh Kiwan issued 'categorically and staunchly' denied any connection to the audio. The persons who publicized the voice recording are 'evil' and want 'to sow strife among Syrian constituents,' he said. 'You can hear my voice clearly [in this video]. Compare it to the one in the fabricated false recording,' the Druze cleric stressed. Nonetheless, the audio prompted a mobilization of gunmen from the predominantly Sunni town of Mleiha, who advanced toward the Druze-majority area of Jaramana. Clashes quickly escalated, continuing from midnight until Tuesday morning, with both sides using small and medium weapons. Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson Mustafa al-Abdo confirmed the deaths of two Damascus-affiliated security personnel in the fighting which he said was 'triggered by internal social tensions and fueled by the circulation of an offensive audio recording.' Members of Syria's Druze community publicly mourned the additional deaths, bringing the confirmed toll to at least 13, with many others more wounded. Local voices Rudaw correspondent Dilkhwaz Mohammed visited Jaramana later on Tuesday. Speaking to him, an armed Druze local said, 'The security situation is currently, as you can see, under our control.' He added that the Druze community had adopted the slogan: 'No attack by us or against us.' Citing a well-known proverb, he said, 'Strife is asleep, and whoever awakens it is damned. Those pushing for strife are acting against the whole of Syria.' Another Druze resident emphasized longstanding intercommunal coexistence stating, 'We, the locals of Jaramana, have always lived in love and peace. Our religious clerics in Suwayda, Mount Hermon, and elsewhere are working to prevent strife.' 'We are against strife, and the spill of the blood of any Syrian, regardless of their religion, is heartbreaking and not acceptable to us," the local noted. Earlier in the day, a senior Druze source in Jaramana told Mohammed that armed men launched a multipronged push to enter Jaramana from multiple directions, using the controversial audio as a pretext to target' the Druze-majority area. The source noted the use of 'mortars and machine guns' against Jaramana. It is worth noting that ahead of Tuesday's clashes in Jaramana, tensions were simmering between Druze and Sunni students at the Homs University City, over the same controversial audio. A number of angry students reportedly stormed the rooms of their Druze colleagues to force them out of the University complex. Students from Suwayda were reportedly assaulted, leading to injury of several of them. Official stances The Syrian interior ministry on Tuesday confirmed that the "sporadic clashes erupted in Jaramana between armed groups, some from outside the area and others from within.' In response, 'units from the general security forces, supported by forces from the Syrian defense ministry,' were deployed to "contain the clashes, protect the residents, and maintain social peace,' the ministry said. Regarding the controversial audio recording, the ministry announced that an urgent investigation has been launched to determine its source and context. Notably, it emphasized that preliminary findings 'do not conclusively link Sheikh Marwan Kiwan to the recording.' Investigative efforts are ongoing to identify the voice behind the audio and ensure that the responsible individual is brought to justice in accordance with Syrian law, the ministry stressed. The Syrian interior ministry further urged restraint and warned against retaliatory actions that could exacerbate tensions. It stressed that 'rising sectarian tensions and social divisions in parts of Syria pose a significant challenge to national security and stability,' reaffirming the state's commitment to protecting religious sanctities and ensuring accountability for any offenses committed. Druze response In a statement, the Druze religious authority in Jaramana rejected what it called an 'unjustified armed attack' on the area. 'We strongly condemn and denounce the armed assault on Jaramana, in which various types of weapons were used to target innocent civilians and terrorize peaceful residents,' the statement read. The Druze religious authority in Jaraman further held the Syrian authorities "fully responsible for what happened and for any subsequent developments or deterioration of the crisis,' while also asserting its rejections of "any insult to the Prophet Muhammad." It slammed the blasphemous audio which sparked the fighting as 'fabricated' and 'a deliberate attempt and scheme to provoke sectarian division and discord among the people of Syria.' Labeling the audio recording as 'fabricated,' the council described it as a 'deliberate attempt to provoke sectarian discord among the Syrian people.' It called on the state to prioritize the protection of civilians and their property, deeming this one of the state's most basic duties. The Druze religious authority in Jaramana also urged authorities to 'clarify the circumstances of what occurred, reveal the full truth, and act to halt ongoing incitement campaigns that are worsening the crisis.' For his part, Waheeb Hamdan, the mayor of Jaramana, announced on Tuesday that the area is experiencing a cautious calm, while the general atmosphere is still strained. He rejected any attempts to stir division with neighboring regions, while also pointing out a shortcoming by the security forces that allowed the clashes to escalate. Meanwhile, in the predominantly Druze province of Suwayda in southern Syria, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, on Tuesday denounced the deadly clashes in Jaramana as a 'terrorist attack' deliberately targeting civilians. He stressed that such 'criminal acts are intended solely to sow division, incite sectarian strife, and spread violence and terrorism.' Hijri warned that the violence was a symptom of 'an inciting domestic climate that is eating away at the Syrian body.' He lamented the growing tendency among some citizens to accuse one another of treason and to reject 'even legitimate forms of criticism.' He further cautioned that the suppression of free voices benefits only extremist and destabilizing factions attempting to impose a 'monochrome and exclusionary sectarian agenda' on Syria. Hijri also criticized what he described as the ongoing 'absence of security and paralysis of essential government institutions,' questioning the role of the interim authority and accusing it of issuing decisions that lack both transparency and clarity. In a related development, local Syrian media reported that Damascus-affiliated general security forces had established roadblocks along key routes leading to Suwayda province. Although no direct clashes or confrontations were recorded within Suwayda itself, the province was on high alert. Armed factions and local popular committees braced for potential emergency scenarios following reports of military convoys moving toward the region. Druze in solidarity The Druze are a religious and ethnocultural group originating in the 11th century as an offshoot of Ismaili Islam. Their faith is monotheistic and esoteric, with core beliefs known only to a select group of initiates. The global Druze population is estimated at 1 to 1.5 million, with the majority in the Levant. Syria hosts the largest community of 700,000–900,000 members, primarily in the southern Suwayda province and areas around Damascus and Mount Hermon. Lebanon has around 300,000 to 400,000 Druze, mostly in the Chouf Mountains and Aley region, where they hold political influence. In Israel, there are about 150,000 Druze, mainly in the Galilee, Carmel Mountains, and Golan Heights, where they are integrated into state institutions, including the military. Smaller communities exist in Jordan and the diaspora. The clashes in Jaramana were quick to draw reactions from Druze leaders in Syria's western neighbor, Lebanon. The Progressive Socialist Party condemned, in a statement, "the completely unacceptable insult to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)' slamming the controversial audio as 'suspicious.' The Party urged 'respect for the sanctity of religious symbols,' warning all sides against 'falling into the trap of sectarian division,' emphasizing "the importance of preserving Syria's unity and its social and popular fabric." The Progressive Socialist Party issued a statement condemning 'the completely unacceptable insult to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),' describing the controversial audio recording as 'suspicious.' The party emphasized the importance of 'respecting the sanctity of religious symbols,' and warned against falling into the trap of sectarian division. It stressed the need to preserve Syria's unity and social cohesion, and urged Damascus to conduct 'a transparent investigation into the incident and its background,' while calling for calm and state action to prevent further unrest. Talal Arslan, leader of the Lebanese Democratic Party, echoed these concerns in a post on X, stating that 'the protection of the Druze and all minorities in Syria is a core responsibility of the [Syrian] state and its official authorities.' He urged 'the countries of the world, especially Arab states,' to act to prevent such attacks and protect the Druze as they would any other minority. Meanwhile, Wiam Wahhab, head of the Lebanese Tawhid Party, also condemned the offensive audio, stating that 'insulting the Prophet Muhammad is an insult to us [Druze] before it is to other Islamic sects.' Addressing the people of Jaramana, he affirmed, 'Defending your city is both a right and a duty, but beware of harming any civilian or innocent person. We, along with the Sunnis, are united in confronting terrorism.' The future Jaramana is home to a majority of Druze and Christians, along with many families displaced by the Syrian unrest that began in 2011. The area experienced renewed tensions following the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in early December at the hands of a coalition of opposition groups, led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control. In early March, security forces loyal to the new leadership deployed in Jaramana after clashes with armed Druze groups. Around that same time, Assad loyalists launched attacks on security forces aligned with the new leadership in Syria's Alawite-majority western regions. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), about 1,500 people - mostly Alawites - were killed, with most deaths attributed to government or pro-government forces. The spike in sectarian violence in Syria has drawn repeated condemnation from Western and regional powers, as well as human rights organizations. The continued clashes underscore the country's deep-rooted divisions, which are further inflamed by online incitement. While authorities have launched investigations and efforts to manage the fallouts, the situation poses a persistent threat to Syria's fragile path toward lasting peace.
