US EditionSyria's Druze take up arms to defend their town against Islamists
- Druze residents of Jaramana armed themselves to defend their town against Islamist attacks this week in the Damascus suburbs.
- The clashes occurred after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December and amid ongoing violence from uncontrolled gangs in this mainly Druze and Christian town.
- Fighting caused at least 17 deaths in Jaramana, including seven Druze fighters, and sectarian violence spread to Sahnaya where 22 combatants died.
- Local activist Rabii Mondher described the recent tension in Jaramana as resembling a state of ongoing conflict, while Haidar expressed concern about escalating grievances that could plunge Syria back into widespread chaos.
- Druze leaders and government representatives reached a deal Tuesday evening to halt the fighting, but hundreds of armed Druze guarded the town, reflecting ongoing tensions.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Amid Sectarian Violence in a Syrian City, Even the Funerals Are Armed - Overpasses For America
Everywhere in the Syrian city of Jaramana on Wednesday, there were armed men, their movements staccato with tension. There were men in jeans or the black baggy pants traditionally worn by the Druse sect, rifles slung across their chests; men of no particular uniform blocking the roads into town; men with vests full of ammunition motioning tersely to one another. They were too preoccupied even to smoke. The reason lay inside a Druse religious hal…
charitonleader.com
Syria's Druze take up arms to defend their town against Islamists
Syrian estate agent Fahd Haidar shuttered his business and got out his rifle to defend his hometown of Jaramana when it came under attack this week by Islamists loyal to the new government.
They had "only reacted to a severe provocation," claimed the Sunni extremists, who had invaded the city of Jaramana south of Damascus on Monday evening. It was called an audio message that allegedly offended Prophet Mohammed and was attributed to Druze clergymen. Internet videos distributed by the news platform "Suwayda 24" show "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) roaring men who sit on a platform and with heavy machine guns seemingly aim randomly at …
Syrian authorities announced on Wednesday the end of operations in the Ashrafieh Sahnaya area near Damascus, and the deployment of forces to ensure security and stability. The Director of the Security Directorate in the Damascus countryside, Lieutenant Colonel Hussam al-Tahhan, confirmed that the situation will return to normal soon. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted al-Tahhan as saying: “We announce the end of the security operation in …
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