Sectarian Clashes Near Damascus Kill 13, Heighten Tensions

At least 12 to 13 people were killed and over a dozen injured in the predominantly Druze suburb of Jaramana near Damascus, following violent clashes sparked by a purported social media recording insulting the Prophet Muhammad, which was attributed to a Druze cleric but later deemed fabricated by authorities. The violence erupted as Sunni gunmen from surrounding areas converged on Jaramana, leading to firefights with local Druze fighters and security forces, including members of the newly established General Security Service comprised mostly of former rebels. The incident marks a surge in sectarian tensions and violence against minorities in Syria since Islamist-led rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad in December, with Druze leaders and community members urging restraint and denouncing attempts to incite strife. The Syrian Interior Ministry is investigating the origin of the recording and has called for calm, while both Druze and Muslim leaders insist the recording was a provocation aimed at sowing division. Druze elders have met with security officials to prevent further escalation, and a security cordon has been placed around Jaramana. The episode follows a series of sectarian attacks in Syria, reflecting persistent instability and fears among minority communities under the new rebel government.