Druze Resist Syrian Disarmament Demand Amid Security Crisis

Druze communities near Damascus are defying Syria’s interim government order to surrender light weapons, following deadly clashes with Sunni militants, Arab News reported.

The violence, which began in Jaramana and spread to Sweida province, has heightened fears among the minority group, who cite inadequate state protection against extremist attacks.

Community leader Makram Obeid stated weapons would only be relinquished once authorities disarm Sunni gangs and guarantee security, referencing March’s massacre of Alawite civilians. The standoff exposes Syria’s post-Assad fragility, with interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa—a former al-Qaeda affiliate—struggling to assert control.

Israel has escalated tensions by conducting drone strikes near Damascus, claiming to defend Druze civilians. One strike reportedly killed a Syrian security officer, marking growing hostility toward the new leadership.

The Druze, comprising 3% of Syria’s population, historically maintained self-defense systems. Their resistance underscores broader governance challenges in a fractured nation where sectarian violence persists and foreign interventions complicate stabilization efforts.