On Tuesday, at least 14 deaths were reported from clashes in Jaramana in southeastern Damascus. On Wednesday, almost as many deaths were reported, as tensions have turned into violence also in the Sahnaya area southwest of the city.
The deadly clashes are reported, among other things, by the state news agency Sana, which claims that the violence erupted when unspecified groups attacked civilians and government security forces.
According to the conflict monitor Syrian Human Rights Observatory (SOHR) and several other sources, the clashes are between the minority group Druze and armed groups linked to the authorities.
Israeli "warning"
Israel has carried out a new attack in Syria, described as a warning to those attacking the Druze. According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Israeli military has attacked "an extremist group that was preparing attacks on the Druze population in Sahnaya".
"A stern message was sent to the Syrian regime: Israel expects it to act to prevent harm to the Druze," the statement continues.
Israel has taken a slightly larger step into Syria since the power shift in December, where dictator Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in a lightning-fast offensive from Sunni Muslim and extremist groups.
In March, battles and massacres took place in areas inhabited by many from the Shia minority Alawites, resulting in hundreds of deaths and many fleeing. Israel's military has since accused Syrian government forces of attacking the Druze and said it is ready to intervene.
Audio clip sparked outrage
The new rulers in Syria present themselves as more moderate Islamists who want to meet religious divisions with tolerance. However, many Sunni Muslim extremists remain in their armed leadership and associated groups.
An audio clip that spread on social media is reported to have been a spark for the violence in Jaramana, which is inhabited by many Druze and Christians. In the unverified clip, a man is heard insulting the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The man heard is said to be Druze.
According to SOHR, government-linked forces stormed Jaramana due to this. The authorities described it as sending security forces to calm down the situation.
The majority of Syrians are Arabs and most are Sunni Muslims.
But the country is also inhabited by a number of other ethnic groups, including Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians/Syrians, Kurds, and Turks. Religious groups include, among others, Sunnis, Christians, Druze, Shiites, Yazidis, Jews, and Alawites.
The Alawites are an Arab minority that practices a unique version of Shia Islam. The deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad belonged to the Alawites and often placed his co-religionists in key positions in the state apparatus.
Before the outbreak of war in 2011, the Alawites made up around 10-12 percent of the population.
Source: The Foreign Policy Institute
