Clashes Ignite in Jaramana: Nine Dead in Sectarian Violence

In the suburb of Jaramana, close to Damascus, sectarian violence has erupted, causing the deaths of at least nine individuals amidst growing tensions following a controversial audio clip.

Deadly clashes ignited in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus with a significant Druse population, as sectarian unrest swept through the region on the night of April 28-29, 2025. The violence, which left nine people dead and injured seventeen others, erupted after an audio recording surfaced on social media featuring a man purportedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad, an allegation linked to a local Druse cleric.

Druse leaders denounced the claims against the cleric, and the Syrian Interior Ministry indicated that initial investigations suggested the cleric was not at fault, urging the public for calm amidst rising tensions. The unrest began to spiral as local fighters fortified positions around Jaramana, launching shelling into the suburb amidst heavy gunfire exchange.

Public outrage quickly escalated, prompting protests across various Syrian cities, some of which further incited violence against the Druse community, according to reports from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. While the source behind the push towards attacks remains unclear, local Druse authorities issued strong statements holding the government accountable for the situation and its potential repercussions.