Druze fighters killed in Damascus suburb clash with Islamist-led security forces VIDEO

At least four Druze fighters were killed in violent clashes with security forces loyal to Syria's Islamist-led government in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana.

The fighting erupted after the security forces stormed areas of the predominantly Druze and Christian suburb, marking a significant escalation in sectarian tensions, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported that the violence followed the circulation of an audio recording, allegedly from a Druze citizen, which contained religious insults.

"Heavy clashes erupted in Jaramana after security forces and affiliated gunmen stormed" the area, the Observatory stated. The monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, confirmed that at least four Druze fighters were killed, although a local news outlet reported five fatalities among the residents of the suburb.

Jaramana, which is also home to families displaced by Syria's ongoing civil conflict since 2011, has long been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions. A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, described the overnight clashes as intense but brief.

"The overnight clashes in one area of the suburb lasted around half an hour and were followed by intermittent gunfire and shelling," the resident said. "We were trapped in our homes as the sound of intermittent gunfire continued. The children have not gone to school and the streets of our neighbourhood are empty this morning."

The Druze religious leadership in Jaramana condemned the violence, describing the attack as "unjustified" and aimed at innocent civilians. In a statement, the leadership said the authorities were "fully responsible for the incident and for any further developments or worsening of the crisis."

The Syrian Ministry of the Interior issued a statement, urging citizens to adhere to public order and avoid actions that could threaten security. "Work is ongoing to identify" the individual behind the audio recording "in order to bring them to justice," the ministry said.

Tensions in Jaramana have been mounting since late February, when a fatal shooting at a checkpoint led to clashes between security forces and local gunmen tasked with protecting the area. Security forces were deployed in the suburb in early March to try to quell the unrest.

The violence highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the new Islamist-led authorities in Syria, particularly in maintaining security across the country following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had previously warned the authorities not to "harm the Druze" minority, which also has significant populations in Lebanon and Israel.

As the conflict continues, restoring stability and security remains one of the most pressing issues for the new authorities, with the situation in Jaramana serving as a stark reminder of the deepening sectarian rifts that threaten to destabilize the region further.

By Vafa Guliyeva