Armed men were present throughout the Syrian city of Jaramana on Wednesday, displaying heightened tension amid a recent violent incident. Dressed in various styles, including traditional Druse attire, these individuals guarded the area, preoccupied with their duties as they blocked roads and communicated urgently with one another.
The source of this tension was a Druse religious hall, where seven coffins draped in velvet were displayed, surrounded by hundreds of mourners. The deceased were victims of an attack believed to be carried out by Islamist extremists, which occurred on Tuesday morning, resulting in gunfire and shelling in Jaramana.
As funeral processions commenced, security personnel were reportedly receiving updates about escalating clashes and an increasing death toll in a nearby predominantly Druse town. Despite the presence of a few trucks marked with Syrian security insignia, community members stated that most armed individuals were local residents who had organized to protect themselves.
According to local resident Ghassan Azzam, there has been little assistance from the government, leading the community to take self-defense measures. The violence in Jaramana and Ashrafieh Sahnaya, situated south of Damascus, marks a troubling resurgence of attacks against religious minorities since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December.
Although the new government has pledged to ensure the safety of minority groups, many residents express skepticism regarding its effectiveness in curbing violence, particularly in light of recent attacks on minority communities, including a massacre in March targeting civilians in Syria's coastal region.
Druse community leader Rabee Mounzer criticized the government's response, suggesting it is either ignoring the situation or lacks the capacity to manage it. He voiced concerns over a potential repeat of previous atrocities against minorities.
The violence that erupted this week was reportedly sparked by an audio clip circulating on social media, allegedly featuring a Druse cleric making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Although the cleric was later cleared by the Interior Ministry, the incident incited threats against the Druse community.
Witnesses described armed men attacking a government checkpoint early Tuesday, resulting in casualties among Jaramana residents. As the situation escalated, attackers, reportedly affiliated with extremist groups, engaged in further violence, leading to additional fatalities on both sides.
Despite the ongoing sectarian violence, many residents of Jaramana are striving to maintain unity across religious lines. Community members expressed a commitment to collective defense, emphasizing that the conflict transcends sectarian identity.
As fear gripped the community, many residents reported sleepless nights and sought refuge with relatives. With most businesses and schools closed, a curfew was imposed as night fell. While officials attributed the attacks to religiously motivated fighters independent of government forces, community leaders called for more decisive action from the authorities.