Attachments
Overview
A viral audio clip alleged to a Druze individual insulting Prophet Muhammad sparked outraged on social media, with the Syrian Interior Ministry promptly launching an official investigation. Subsequently, a warrant was issued for “Marwan Kiwan”, also known as Jad’an Abu Fakher – a Najran (Sweida) local, the accused individual, on blasphemy charges, with the government acting swiftly in efforts to calm public outrage and avoid communal tensions and violence spillover.
Localized skirmishes in Jaramana took place following the arrival of pro-government forces from Rural Damasus and Dar'a; this was followed by Druze prominent figure Hikmat al Hajari accusing what he labelled as 'takfiri' and 'extremist' gangs assaulting the Damascus suburb. Violence swiftly spread across Jaramana governorate, with individual attacks against Druze civilians recorded in various other localities in Damascus and Rural Damascus. On the morning of April 29, Jaraman was placed under a lockdown as more pro-government continued to arrive into the area.
Nearby, Sahnaya witnessed a full-scale military operation by the Syrian Ministry of Defense targeting militants loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri. Syrian air force warplanes reportedly supported the campaign as ground forces imposed a fire cordon around Sahnaya, later claiming to have taken full control of the area. Six individuals from Daraa were reported killed in an ambush near Sahnaya in addition to various other pro-government forces either killed or detained. Conversely, high-profile figures such as Wajdi Al-Haj Ali, referred to as a Druze religious leader in Sahnaya, were reportedly killed. Several Druze fighters, including sheikhs and youth, were also confirmed dead.
In efforts to curb the escalation of violence, local leaders and representatives of the Damascus government agreed through a reconciliation meeting later April 29 where the attendees agreed on facilitating the payment of compensations for families of the deceased, upholding legal accountability for armed actors and de-escalating rhetoric in the media, in addition to the restoration of civilian movement between Damascus and Sweida. The reconciliation agreement however soon collapsed as clashes ensued in early morning hours on April 30, with the radius of violence further widening.