FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – At least 14 people were killed and more than 15 others injured in sectarian clashes in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported Tuesday.
The violence erupted late Monday after an audio recording deemed offensive to Islam circulated online, allegedly made by a member of the Druze community. Outrage on social media triggered retaliatory attacks in Jaramana, a suburb primarily home to Druze and Christian communities.
Seven local residents and seven members of Syrian military forces were among the dead, SOHR said, adding that residential neighborhoods were hit by weapons fire, causing civilians to flee in panic.
Security forces encircled Jaramana by Tuesday morning, with reinforcements deployed to restore order. Officials said a curfew was under consideration, and an investigation into the controversial recording was underway.
The Druze religious leadership denounced the audio as a “fabrication” and blamed Syrian authorities for failing to prevent the violence. Rising tensions in other mixed-sectarian areas, including Aleppo and Homs, have sparked concerns about broader regional spillover.