Egypt Daily News – The new Syrian government deployed their forces in the Jaramana suburb near Damascus on Sunday, following clashes with Druze militants that resulted in casualties. These developments coincide with an Israeli threat to intervene to protect the Druze minority in case of any attacks.
Jaramana, a suburb near Damascus, witnessed a security deployment by forces affiliated with the new Syrian authorities on Sunday, according to the official news agency (SANA). This came after tensions and clashes between these forces and local Druze militants, prompting Israel to threaten intervention in defense of the minority group.
The events began on Friday evening when a security officer was killed, and another was injured by gunfire at a checkpoint after an altercation between the two sides, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Abu Shouk camp’s emergency room reported that “the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons today witnessed heavy artillery shelling targeting the camp and the Nivasha market by the Rapid Support Forces using long-range artillery.”
Colonel Hassan Tahan, the security chief of the Damascus countryside province, told SANA that “our forces have begun deployment inside Jaramana,” stating that they would put an end to “chaos” and illegal checkpoints set up by “outlaws” engaged in kidnapping, murder, and armed robbery.
The Observatory confirmed that the clashes resulted in another fatality and nine injuries on Saturday. This suburb, located southeast of the Syrian capital, is home to a majority of Druze and Christians, along with families displaced by the ongoing conflict since April 2011.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Saturday that the Israeli military had been placed on alert and had issued a “stern warning” to the Syrian government against targeting members of the Druze community.
While around 150,000 Druze live in Israel, with most holding Israeli citizenship, another 23,000 reside in the occupied Golan Heights, maintaining their Syrian identity.
A Jaramana resident, Issa Abdel Haq, 53, told AFP, “Israel can say whatever it wants; we are part of Syria… They are only talking to themselves.” Meanwhile, Salah Abdul Razzaq, 56, described Israeli statements as “inciteful and reckless,” aimed at “swaying segments of the population.”
On Saturday night, Druze elders in Jaramana issued a statement announcing they would “withdraw protection” from lawbreakers and hand over any offenders to the authorities.
On Sunday, Colonel Tahan pledged to pursue “those involved” and bring them to justice, affirming that no part of Syria would remain outside state control.
Since the new authorities took control of Damascus on December 8, sporadic clashes and shootings have occurred. Security officials blame armed groups loyal to the previous regime for these incidents.
Authorities claim they are targeting “remnants of the former regime” in their operations, amid reports of rights violations, including home confiscations, summary executions, and kidnappings, which official sources describe as “isolated incidents.”
Several Syrian cities, including Damascus and Sweida, which has a large Druze population, witnessed protests on Tuesday rejecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements. He had asserted that Israel would not allow the new administration’s forces to deploy south of Damascus. His comments followed rising tensions between the new Syrian authorities and Druze militants around the capital.
