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Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
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Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
The Southern Syria clashes began on 28 April 2025. The initial clashes erupted in the city of Jaramana following tensions related to the circulation of a controversial audio recording, and quickly escalated to nearby areas of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, and on 30 April to multiple villages in Suwayda Governorate. After de-escalation efforts, an agreement was reached to end the fighting on 1 May. Israel conducted airstrikes against Syrian government targets on 30 April and again on 2–3 May, the latter triggering Turkish efforts to jam the Israeli comms systems. Sporadic fighting continued in to May, along with two Islamic State bombings in late May. Clashes would be renewed in July 2025.
Clashes broke out in late February 2025 in Jaramana between Druze militias and the General Security Service.
Tensions continued in late April 2025 after the spread of an offensive audio recording allegedly containing blasphemous content against the Islamic prophet Muhammad, allegedly attributed to a Druze scholar named Marwan Kiwan, who disavowed it. The recording sparked public outrage across the region. The Religious Council of the Druze in Suwayda swiftly condemned the recording and disavowed the individual, while the Syrian Ministry of Interior launched an official investigation, later confirming that the accused person was not responsible for the recording.
The Suwayda Military Council, the Supreme Forces and Sheikh al-Karama Forces voiced ambivalence towards the Sharaa administration, while other Druze groups, including Ahrar Jabal al-Arab, the Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Battalion and the group led by Laith al-Balous, have expressed an openness towards working with it.
According to activist Samih al-Awam, Suwayda is broadly divided into three factions; civil society movements are generally supportive of the president, while various armed factions, including Men of Dignity, Al-Jabal Brigade, Balous Forces, and Ahrar Jabal al-Arab are also supportive of the al-Sharaa administration. Four groups allied with Hikmat al-Hijri are in favor of decentralization.
The first incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. on 28 April 2025, when an unidentified group opened fire on a local militia checkpoint near the "Al-Naseem" intersection at the entrance of Jaramana. Gunfire continued and intensified around 4:00 a.m., leading to the deaths of at least two members of the security forces and six residents of the city. Over ten others were injured in the initial wave of violence.
Local factions imposed heightened security measures, erecting checkpoints and restricting movement into and out of the city. A statement circulated on social media, attributed to the residents of Jaramana, condemned the violence and sectarian incitement, while urging official authorities to investigate and punish those responsible.
On 29 April 2025, clashes expanded to the Druze-majority towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. Armed groups attacked multiple security checkpoints using light weapons and RPGs. The fighting briefly paused, but continued after reinforcements arrived from Daraa.
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Southern Syria clashes (April–May 2025)
The Southern Syria clashes began on 28 April 2025. The initial clashes erupted in the city of Jaramana following tensions related to the circulation of a controversial audio recording, and quickly escalated to nearby areas of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, and on 30 April to multiple villages in Suwayda Governorate. After de-escalation efforts, an agreement was reached to end the fighting on 1 May. Israel conducted airstrikes against Syrian government targets on 30 April and again on 2–3 May, the latter triggering Turkish efforts to jam the Israeli comms systems. Sporadic fighting continued in to May, along with two Islamic State bombings in late May. Clashes would be renewed in July 2025.
Clashes broke out in late February 2025 in Jaramana between Druze militias and the General Security Service.
Tensions continued in late April 2025 after the spread of an offensive audio recording allegedly containing blasphemous content against the Islamic prophet Muhammad, allegedly attributed to a Druze scholar named Marwan Kiwan, who disavowed it. The recording sparked public outrage across the region. The Religious Council of the Druze in Suwayda swiftly condemned the recording and disavowed the individual, while the Syrian Ministry of Interior launched an official investigation, later confirming that the accused person was not responsible for the recording.
The Suwayda Military Council, the Supreme Forces and Sheikh al-Karama Forces voiced ambivalence towards the Sharaa administration, while other Druze groups, including Ahrar Jabal al-Arab, the Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Battalion and the group led by Laith al-Balous, have expressed an openness towards working with it.
According to activist Samih al-Awam, Suwayda is broadly divided into three factions; civil society movements are generally supportive of the president, while various armed factions, including Men of Dignity, Al-Jabal Brigade, Balous Forces, and Ahrar Jabal al-Arab are also supportive of the al-Sharaa administration. Four groups allied with Hikmat al-Hijri are in favor of decentralization.
The first incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. on 28 April 2025, when an unidentified group opened fire on a local militia checkpoint near the "Al-Naseem" intersection at the entrance of Jaramana. Gunfire continued and intensified around 4:00 a.m., leading to the deaths of at least two members of the security forces and six residents of the city. Over ten others were injured in the initial wave of violence.
Local factions imposed heightened security measures, erecting checkpoints and restricting movement into and out of the city. A statement circulated on social media, attributed to the residents of Jaramana, condemned the violence and sectarian incitement, while urging official authorities to investigate and punish those responsible.
On 29 April 2025, clashes expanded to the Druze-majority towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. Armed groups attacked multiple security checkpoints using light weapons and RPGs. The fighting briefly paused, but continued after reinforcements arrived from Daraa.