Violent Fights Among Different Religious Groups Result in Over a Dozen Deaths Close to Damascus
Tensions in Syria's Jaramana Rekindled, Sparking Bloodshed
Get ready to dive into a whirlwind of sectarian violence unfolding in Syria, primarily in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. Back in April 2025, a spark was lit that sent tempers soaring and bullets flying.
The chaos can be traced back to a divisive audio recording, which was circulated and erroneously associated with a Druze cleric, Marwan Kiwan. This audacious snub of Prophet Muhammad unleashed the full fury of Sunni Muslims, igniting a series of violent skirmishes. This tragic turn of events is not isolated; we’ve seen similar tragedies unfold along Syria's coast, where Nearly 1,700 Alawites were brutally murdered in March 2025[1][3].
The Jaramana clashes claimed 14 lives (7 Druze fighters and 7 security personnel)[3], but Euronews reported a slightly lower death toll of 9[2]. Similar atrocities occurred in Central Syria, where 14 Alawites lost their lives at the hands of Sunni tribesmen in an attack on April 27[4].
Syria's prolonged conflict has left the nation a patchwork of zones under diverse influences. The Druze, an Arab minority practicing a religion stemming from Islam, have taken up arms to shield their towns. This new Islamist-led authority in Damascus has demanded that all weapons come under their control, but the Druze fighters remain steadfast in their defiance, asserting that Damascus hasn’t given them assurances of protection against hostile militants[2].
Tensions are running high among minority communities who question the Sunni-dominated government's commitment to security, and warn of a repetition of the horrifying massacres in Jaramana similar to those at the coast[1][3].
Security personnel have beefed up their presence in Jaramana, vowing to hold the perpetrators accountable, but minority communities remain wary[1][3][4]. Neighboring Israel, home to thousands of Druze, has threatened intervention to safeguard the community within Syria, as well as among the Druze living in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights[2].
Said Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, "The disgusting words hurled by a few rebels against our Prophet represent them alone, and are rejected by us, as well as the society at large. Let us distance ourselves from those seeking to widen the chasm of sectarian strife."[5]
This tense climate is forcing community leaders and Syrian authorities to keep an extra-close eye on the situation, fearing that any wrong move could trigger a chain reaction of violence.[5][1]
- The divisive audio recording, wrongfully attributed to Marwan Kiwan, stirred up controversy and sparked a series of violent conflicts among the Druze and Sunni communities in Syria, most notably in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana.
- The recent escalation of sectarian violence in Syria's Jaramana has brought about fears of a repeat of the bloody massacres witnessed along the coast, where over 1,700 Alawites were brutally murdered in March 2025.
- The Jaramana clashes, which resulted in the death of 14 individuals (7 Druze fighters and 7 security personnel), raise concerns about Syria's ongoing conflict and the fragile balance of power among the various factions.
- The Druze minority in Syria, who follow a religion stemming from Islam, have armed themselves to protect their towns amidst the growing influence of Islamist forces in Damascus.
- The Druze community, both in Syria and Israel, have found themselves under increasing threat as a result of the ongoing violence, leading to tension and worries of further escalation in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and politics as reported in general-news outlets.
