Fears of a Repeat of the Coastal Scenario Amid Rising Clashes in Druze Areas

30th April 2025

4 minutes read

Fears of a Repeat of the Coastal Scenario Amid Rising Clashes in Druze Areas

Security forces are unable to control battles between Druze fighters and gunmen surrounding Ashrafieh Sahnaya, with snipers stationed on rooftops.

Rescue workers and security sources reported that more than 12 people were killed in the predominantly Druze town of Ashrafieh Sahnaya near the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Tuesday/Wednesday night in clashes triggered by an audio recording attributed to a Druze man insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The recording enraged Sunni militants and sparked a wave of incitement on social media, raising fears of a repeat of the coastal massacre scenario.

Local sources said the clashes were intensifying between Druze fighters and unidentified armed men, while security forces were unsuccessfully trying to contain the fighting. Snipers had taken up positions on rooftops, and residents were trapped in their homes, unable to move or leave the area.

Residents from all sects in the area issued urgent appeals to the state to intervene and protect them, citing the failure of the present security forces and expressing fears of an imminent attack and potential massacres against civilians, similar to previous events on the coast.

These clashes are the latest in a series of sectarian violence incidents that have resulted in casualties in Syria. Concerns among minorities have grown since armed opposition fighters, led by Islamists, ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in December and formed a government and security forces.

These fears escalated after hundreds of Alawites were killed in March in what appeared to be retaliation for an attack launched by al-Assad loyalists. Activists on social media denounced the ongoing sectarian incitement under any justification.

SANA quoted a source from the Ministry of Health saying that “the targeting of civilians and security forces by outlaw groups” in the Sahnaya area resulted in “11 martyrs and several injuries.”

These events followed similar clashes in the nearby area of Jaramana, also near Damascus, which left 17 people dead according to a new toll from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights—8 Druze fighters and 9 armed “attackers linked to the regime.”

The Jaramana clashes erupted after a leaked audio recording allegedly from a Druze individual contained insults toward the Prophet Muhammad. The Ministry of Interior later declared the recording to be fabricated.

Despite calm returning to Jaramana after an agreement was reached Tuesday night between Syrian government representatives and Druze leaders, violence reignited in Sahnaya, which is also inhabited by Druze and Christians.

The Observatory reported earlier that “at least two people, including a Druze fighter, were killed in clashes between regime-linked gunmen and Druze fighters from the area,” noting that “14 people are missing or wounded.”

A curfew was reportedly imposed by security forces in an attempt to contain the tension, and local officials held meetings with community leaders to explore ways to de-escalate the situation.

Samer Rafaa, an activist in Sahnaya, said via phone while shelling sounds were audible: “We haven’t slept all night… Mortar shells are currently falling on our houses.”

He added, “The authorities are absent, I don’t know where they are. We beg them to act… People are dying and we have wounded who can’t be treated.”

The agreement reached overnight in Jaramana, later published by SANA, included a pledge to “hold those involved in the latest attack accountable and bring them to fair justice,” as well as “media clarification of the events and reduction of sectarian and regional incitement.”

According to the agreement, the government is expected to act immediately to implement all of its provisions.

This tension comes just over a month after deadly violence in Syria’s coastal region, where around 1,700 people, mostly Alawites, were killed—highlighting the challenges faced by the new Syrian leadership under transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa in its efforts to assert control and define relationships with different societal groups following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in December.

The Druze are spread across Lebanon, Israel, the occupied Golan Heights, and Syria, where the southern province of Suwayda is their main stronghold.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the Druze have largely managed to stay out of its effects. They generally did not take up arms against the regime nor joined the opposition, with few exceptions.

The Druze, who are part of various armed groups in their areas, have not yet reached an agreement with the new authorities to integrate into their forces, especially after interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa announced the dissolution of all fighting factions.