Watan-Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, said on Tuesday that he held a meeting with a senior Israeli military official regarding recent developments in Jaramana—a neighborhood south of Damascus inhabited by Druze.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Tarif said he was “closely following reports related to the events in Jaramana, Syria,” describing the situation as a “brutal terrorist attack.”
The statement follows sporadic clashes between armed groups in the Jaramana district, which the Syrian Interior Ministry said were triggered by the circulation of an audio clip containing insults against the Prophet Muhammad, followed by incitement and hate speech on social media platforms.
According to the ministry, the clashes resulted in casualties, including fatalities and injuries among local security forces, although no exact figures were given.
Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif.
Tarif Urges Protection of Druze Amid Syrian Unrest and Sectarian Tensions
Tarif reportedly held discussions with Druze figures and community leaders in Jaramana and conducted formal communications with various international actors influential in Syria. He also held an “emergency security meeting with the commander of Israel’s Northern Command” (name not disclosed) to address recent escalations.
The statement emphasized that Tarif warned against targeting the Druze in Syria, asserting that “there will be no safety in Syria unless the Druze community’s rights, dignity, and security are safeguarded.”
He also called on all Syrian factions to “quell the strife, eradicate sectarianism, and avoid falling into the traps of terrorist groups that threaten civil peace.
Tarif condemned “all forms of disrespect toward prophets, messengers, and religions, especially the honored Arab Prophet and Seal of the Prophets, peace be upon him.”
The Syrian Interior Ministry also said it had imposed a security cordon around the area to prevent further incidents and affirmed its commitment to arresting and prosecuting those responsible for the offensive recording and the ensuing unrest.
It warned that “anyone involved in spreading chaos or undermining stability will face justice.”
Druze Amid Syrian Unrest and Sectarian Tensions
Druze Cleric Criticizes Syrian Leadership as Clashes Erupt Near Damascus
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, one of the top Druze religious authorities in Syria, indirectly criticized the country’s current leadership in a recorded message shared on social media, saying the Syrian people “have yet to see the fruits of victory” and that “nothing has been built on sound principles.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Anadolu’s correspondent reported that Druze groups had opened fire with heavy weapons on government security forces in Jaramana, located around 8 km from central Damascus, killing two people and injuring eight others.
On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions completed their takeover of the country, ending 61 years of Baath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family dominance, including Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year presidency (2000–2024).
