• Deadly sectarian clashes near Damascus between Druze, security forces, and other factions resulted in over 100 casualties and prompted Druze leaders to condemn the violence.
• Druze leaders in Ashrafieh Sahnaya agreed to disarm militias and integrate fighters into government forces in exchange for government concessions and investigations into abuses.
• Israel intervened with airstrikes, citing the need to protect the Druze population, while the Syrian government rejects foreign intervention and calls for national unity.

Sectarian clashes erupted near Damascus, Syria, involving the Druze minority, security forces, and various armed factions. The violence, triggered by inflammatory social media content and existing tensions, led to significant casualties and prompted condemnation from Druze leaders, who accuse the government of enabling extremist attacks. The situation highlights the fragile security landscape in post-Assad Syria, with external actors like Israel also intervening, raising concerns about wider regional implications.

• What: Sectarian clashes erupted between Druze, security forces, and other armed groups, resulting in casualties and raising fears of wider unrest in Syria. Druze leaders condemned the violence, accusing the government of enabling extremist attacks. Israel intervened with airstrikes, citing the need to protect the Druze population. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of external actors and existing tensions between religious minorities and the new authorities.
• Who: Key individuals and groups include: Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri (Druze leader), Syrian security forces, Druze fighters, Ahmed al-Sharaa (Syria's current leader), Israel (through its military intervention), local Druze leaders, and various armed factions.
• When: The clashes occurred in late April/early May 2025. The agreement to disarm militias was reached on Friday, May 3, 2025. Israel's airstrikes took place on Wednesday.
• Where: The clashes primarily took place in Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus, as well as in the southern province of Sweida. Ashrafieh Sahnaya is specifically mentioned as a location where the agreement to disarm militias was reached.

The sectarian clashes highlight the deep-seated instability in post-Assad Syria. The Druze community's distrust of the new Islamist-led government, coupled with the intervention of external actors like Israel, creates a volatile situation. The agreement to disarm militias in Ashrafieh Sahnaya represents a potential step towards de-escalation, but the long-term prospects for stability remain uncertain, especially given the complex interplay of internal and external forces.

This collective killing is systematic, clear, visible, and documented. We no longer trust a group that calls itself a government, because the government doesn’t kill its own people through extremist gangs that are loyal to it, and after the massacre claims they are loose forces.

We’re all in one ship. If it sinks, God forbid, we’ll all sink.

unjustifiable genocidal campaign

The recent sectarian violence in Syria underscores the country's fragile state following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. While local agreements to disarm militias offer a glimmer of hope, the involvement of external actors, the deep-seated distrust between religious groups and the new authorities, and the potential for further escalation remain significant challenges. The path to stability in Syria is fraught with uncertainty, requiring sustained efforts towards reconciliation and inclusive governance.