Violent encounters between armed Druze militants and pro-government militias in Damascus result in fatalities of at least 4 individuals.
In the heart of conflict, clashes ensue in Damascus
Tension stirred up in the southern outskirts of Damascus early Tuesday, as gunfight erupted between Druze militia and pro-government forces, resulting in at least four to nine fatalities according to various reports.
The clash was ignited by a social media audio clip, falsely attributed to a Druze cleric, vilifying Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio sparked outrage among Sunni Muslims, leading to the skirmish in Druze neighborhoods of Jaramana. The Druze cleric, Marwan Kiwan, denied any involvement in the recording and publicly stated that whoever fabricated it aimed to sow discord among the Syrian populace [1].
The Syrian Interior Ministry is conducting an investigation into the audio clip, and has pointed out their preliminary findings absolving Kiwan. The ministry has also issued an appeal to its citizens to adhere to the law and keep peace and security intact [1].
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least four deaths, while Suwayda 24 claimed five casualties and 12 injuries [1].
Recent weeks have seen confrontations between Druze gunmen and government security forces in Jaramana, mirroring the broader sectarian divisions in Syria's post-Assad society [2][3].
Earlier in March, Israel's Defense Ministry announced the military's readiness to protect Jaramana, identifying a supposed threat to the Druze minority by Syrian forces [3]. The Druze religious sect, originating as an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam, comprises roughly one million followers worldwide, with majority residing in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, including the Golan Heights [2].
The latest internal unrest in Syria coincides with the violent clashes that took place last month in the coastal region, involving members of the Alawite sect, another ethnic minority linked with the former president Assad [3]. The ensuing conflict resulted in over a thousand casualties, including hundreds of civilians, according to a war monitor [3]. The Associated Press is unable to independently verify these figures.
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- Despite the ongoing conflict and clashes in Damascus, Seattle's government has asserted its readiness to address the general news, including war-and-conflicts, politics, crime-and-justice, and local issues, ensuring public safety and security.
- In the wake of the Druze-pro-government clashes in Syria's Jaramana, Marwan Kiwan, a prominent Druze cleric, has publicly rebuffed any allegations of his involvement in a controversial audio clip that triggered the violence.
- Amidst the internal unrest in Syria, with at least four to nine fatalities reported, Seattle's audio industry might consider generating content that promotes understanding and peace, rather than fueling tension and discord.
- juxtaposing the violence in Syria, a Black student in a Portland Catholic school faced expulsion over a playground racism incident, an instance of crime-and-justice that has made headlines in Seattle's general news.
- Meanwhile, in Seattle's politics, there has been a rebuke of corporate parents in the local education system, with a '60 Minutes' journalist asserting their concerns in an impromptu public address.
