Clashes between Syrian forces and Druze militants leave 11 dead near Damascus PHOTO/VIDEO

At least 11 people have been killed in fierce clashes between Syrian government security forces and armed Druze groups in the Sahnaya area, located just south of Damascus, according to security sources and local media reports.

The fighting erupted as Druze militias reportedly opened fire on government forces using heavy weaponry in Sahnaya, a suburb situated about 12 kilometers from the center of the Syrian capital. Localized confrontations are still ongoing, prompting the deployment of reinforcements and heightened security measures in the area, Caliber.Az reports, citing Syrian media.

The violence comes amid a broader spike in tensions involving Syria’s Druze community. Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, a prominent Druze spiritual leader, has urged Israel and the international community to intervene. “Israel must not remain indifferent to what is currently happening in Syria,” he said.

On April 30, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly carried out a warning drone strike on a group allegedly preparing attacks on Druze civilians in Sahnaya. The strike, executed with a Hermes 450 drone, was authorized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

“A serious message was delivered to the Syrian regime, stating that Israel expects it to take action to prevent harm to the Druze,” the Israeli leaders said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, fighters from Bedouin tribes reportedly blocked a large Druze military convoy advancing from the city of As-Suwayda toward Sahnaya, signaling further fragmentation and complexity in the ongoing conflict.

A day earlier, two people were killed and eight others injured in nearby Jaramana during similar confrontations between Druze-linked armed factions and Syrian security forces.

By Khagan Isayev