18 killed in confrontations between Druze fighters, government forces near Damascus: Monitor

Clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian government forces near Damascus have left at least 18 people dead, Rudaw reported citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The violence erupted in the Druze-majority suburb of Jaramana following the circulation of an audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed. The recording was attributed to prominent Druze cleric Sheikh Marwan Kiwan, who has categorically denied the claim.

The conflict began on Tuesday between Sunni and Druze locals after the audio surfaced online. Government-affiliated gunmen mobilized and advanced toward Jaramana, leading to clashes with Druze fighters using small and medium weapons. SOHR reported that nine members of government forces were killed or injured, and the death toll is expected to rise due to critical injuries.

A senior Druze source described the attack as a multipronged push by armed men targeting the suburb, using the audio as a pretext. Syria’s interior ministry has called for an investigation into the audio clip’s origin and context. Preliminary findings do not conclusively link Sheikh Kiwan to the recording, and efforts continue to identify the responsible party and hold them accountable under Syrian law.